seriously. I think the man is odious. If he were not my father's friend, I should say he was—"
"What, Lionel?" asked the Colonel, blandly—"was what?"
"Snobbish, Sir."
"Lionel, how dare you!" exclaimed Mrs. Haughton. "What vulgar words boys do pick up at school, Colonel Morley!"
"We must be careful that they do not pick up worse than words when they leave school, my dear madam. You will forgive me, but Mr. Darrell has so expressly—of course, with your permission—commended this young gentleman to my responsible care and guidance—so openly confided to me in views and intentions, that perhaps you will do me the very great favor not to force upon him, against his own wishes, the acquaintance of—that very good-looking person."
Mrs. Haughton pouted, but kept down her rising temper. The Colonel began to awe her.
"By-the-by," continued the man of the world, "may I inquire the name of my old friend's particular friend?"
"His name—upon my word I really don't know it. Perhaps he left his card—ring the bell, Lionel."
"You don't know his name, yet you know him, ma'am, and would allow your son to see life under his auspices! I beg you ten thousand pardons; but even ladies the most cautious, mothers the most watchful, are exposed to—"
"Immense temptations—that is—to—to—"
"I understand perfectly, my dear Mrs. Haughton."
The footman appeared. "Did that gentleman leave a card?"
"No, ma'am."
"Did not you ask his name when he entered?"
"Yes, ma'am, but he said he would announce himself."
When the footman had withdrawn, Mrs. Haughton exclaimed, piteously, "I have been to blame, Colonel—I see it. But Lionel will tell you how I came to know the gentleman—the gentleman who nearly run over me, Lionel,—and then spoke so kindly about your dear father."
"Oh, that is the person! I supposed so," cried Lionel, kissing his mother, who was inclined to burst into tears. "I can explain it all now, Colonel Morley. Any one who says a kind word about my father warms my mother's heart to him at once. Is it not so, mother dear?"
"And long be it so," said Colonel Morley, with graceful earnestness; "and may such be my passport to your confidence, Mrs. Haughton. Charles was my old schoolfellow—a little boy when I and Darrell were in the sixth form; and pardon me
