"Thank you. What will Ned do?"

"He will amuse Mamma, he says. Dear old Ned! I wish you'd stir about andget him his commission. He is so impatient to be doing something and yetso proud he won't ask again, after you have neglected it so many timesand refused Uncle's help."

"I'll attend to it fairly soon; don't worry me, kid. He will do fairlywell for a time, quietly here with us."

"You always say that, yet you know he chafes and is unhappy at beingdependent on you. Mamma and I don't mind; but he is a man, and it fretshim. He said he'd take matters into his own hands soon, and then you perhaps sorry you were so sluggish in helping him."

"Miss Muir is looking out of the window. You'd much better go and take yourrun, else she will scold."