Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

LORD SALTIRE AND MACKWOtTH. 151^
the sight of her old friend. They three walked and talked in
the fresh spring morning an hour or more.
That afternoon came a servant to Lord Saltire with a note
from Father Mackworth, requesting the honor of ten minutes'
conversation with Lord Saltire in private.
"I suppose I must see the fellow," said the old man to himself.
"My compliments to Mr. Mackworth, and I am alone in the
library. The fool," continued he, when the man had left the
room, "why does n't he let well alone? I hate the fellow. I
believe he is as treacherous as his mother. If he broaches the
subject, he shall have the whole truth."
Meanwhile, Father Mackworth was advancing towards him
through the dark corridors, and walking slower, and yet more
slow, as he neared the room where sat the grim old man. He
knew that there would be a fencing'match; and of all the men
in broad England he feared his lordship most. His determination held, however; though, up to the very last, he had almost
determined to speak only about comparatively indifferent subjects, and not about that nearest to his heart.
" How do you do, my good sir? " said Lord Saltire, as he came
in; "I have to condole with you on the loss of our dear old
friend. We shall neither of us ever have a better one, sir."
Mackworth uttered some commonplaces; to which Lord Saltire bowed, without speaking, and then sat with his elbows on the
arms of his chair, making a triangle of his two forefingers and
thumbs, staring at Father AMackworth.
"I am going, Lord Saltire, to trouble you with some of my
early reminiscences as a boy."
Lord Saltire bowed, and settled himself easily in his chair, as
one does who expects a good story. Mackworth went on, —
"One of my earliest recollections, my lord, is of being at a
French lycee."
"The fault of those establishments," said Lord Saltire, pensively, "is the great range of subjects which are superficially
taught. I ask pardon for interrupting you. Do you take snuff?"
Mackworth declined, with great politeness, and continued, —
"I was taken to that school by a footman in livery."
"Upon my honor, then, I owe you an apology. I thought, of
course, that the butler had gone with you. But, in a large
house, one never really knows what one's people are about."
Father Mackworth did not exactly like this. It was perfectly
evident to him, not only that Lord Saltire knew all about his
birth and parentage, but also was willing to tell.
i" Lord Saltire," he said, "I have never had a parent's care, or
any name but one I believe to be fictitious. You can give me a
name, - give me, perhaps, a parent, possibly a brother. Will
you do this for me?"