"I know so little about my father," he said again.

"And yet the world knows so much," remarked Howard, throwing open his

waterproof and basking in the sun which shone as warmly and

unreservedly as if it had never heard of such a thing as rain. "One

can't take up the paper without seeing some mention of Sir Stephen

Orme's great name. One day he is in Paris negotiating a state loan;

another you read he is annexing, appropriating, or whatever you call

it, a vast tract in Africa or Asia; on the third you are informed with

all solemnity that he has become director of a new bank, insurance

company, or one of those vast concerns in which only Rothschilds and

Advertisement..

Barings can disport themselves. Now and again you are informed that Sir

Stephen Orme has been requested to stand for an important constituency,

but that he was compelled to decline because of the pressure of his

numerous affairs. There may be a more famous and important individual

in the world than your father, my dear Stafford, but I can't call him

to mind at this moment."

"Chaff away," said Stafford, good-humouredly. "At any rate, he has been

a jolly liberal father to me. Did I tell you that just before he came

home be placed a largish sum at his bank for me; I mean over and above

my allowance?"

"You didn't tell me, but I'm not at all surprised," responded Howard.

"A truly wonderful father, and a model to all other parents. Would that

I possessed such a one. You don't remember your mother, Stafford?"

The young fellow's handsome face softened for an instant; and his voice

was low and grave as he replied: "No--and yet sometimes I fancy that I do; though, seeing that she died

when I was quite a kid, it must be only fancy. I wish she'd lived," his

voice became still lower; "I wish I had a brother, or a sister,

especially a sister--By George! that's a fine stream! Did you see that

fish jump, Howard?"

"No, I was too much occupied in jumping myself. I thought by your

exclamation that something had happened to the carriage or the horses,

and that we were on the verge of a smash-up. Let it jump if it amuses

it."

"So it may--if I don't catch it," said Stafford, pulling up the horses

near the bank of the stream.

"Do you mean to tell me that you are going to fish?" demanded Howard,

with a groan. "My dear Stafford, I know that being that abominable

thing--a sportsman--you are consequently mad; but you might have the

decency to curb your insanity out of consideration for the wretched man

who has the misfortune to be your companion, and who plainly sees that

this period of sunshine is a gilded fraud, and that presently it will

rain again like cats and dogs."




Most Popular