unkind, eye, he said: "Well, sir, I thought you would have been at
Oxford."

"Yes, my dear uncle; but circumstances -- "

"Well, well, I don't want to hear the cause. I am very glad you are not
there; I believe you might as well be at Rome."

And then in due course, and after some talk of the past and old times,
Lothair referred to the suggestions of Mr. Giles, and hinted at a
meeting of his guardians to confer and advise together.

"No, no," said the Scotch peer, shaking his head; "I will have nothing
to do with the Scarlet Lady. Mr. Giles is an able and worthy man; he
may well be trusted to draw up a programme for our consideration, and
indeed it is an affair in which yourself should be most consulted. Let
all be done liberally, for you have a great inheritance, and I would be
no curmudgeon in these matters."

"Well, my dear uncle, whatever is arranged, I hope you and my cousins
will honor and gratify me with your presence throughout the
proceedings."

"Well, well, it is not much in my way. You will be having balls and
fine ladies. There is no fool like an old fool, they say; but I think,
from what I hear, the young fools will beat us in the present day. Only
think of young persons going over to the Church of Rome. Why, they are
just naturals!"

The organizing genius of Mr. Putney Giles had rarely encountered a more