brother's son, you certainly would neither refuse nor refrain to
do so."

"Oh, surely--certainly not," replied the other, hastily. "Anything
that I could do--anything in reason, sir, I should be very happy
to do, but--"

And then followed the usual rigmarole about "his own family," and
"hard times," and "diminished resources," and all those stereotype
commonplaces which are for ever on the lips of stereotype insincere
people. Mr. Clifford did not perceive the dry and somewhat scornful
inuendo, which lay at the bottom of Mr. Edgerton's seemingly innocent
assumption; and the latter took his leave, vexed with himself at
having made the unsuccessful application--but still more angry with
the meanness of character which he had encountered in my uncle.






CHAPTER IV.

"She still soothed The mock of others."





It is not improbable that, after a few hours given to calm reflection,