And all men loved him for his modest grace

And comeliness of figure and face.-Longfellow.

"WELL, mater, here is your scapegrace son! What! didn't you expect me? I wrote last week.”

"Yes, but I thought after what Olive said in her letter to you, that you might not come. I am very glad to see you, dear boy; you need not wish me to assure you of that!"

Eddie had marched in unexpectedly one afternoon when both his sisters were out. His mother welcomed him very warmly, but rather nervously. Only that morning Olive and she had been examining her banking account, and found that she had already overdrawn for the quarter. Mrs. Tracy had never been able to live within her means, and had lately been finding it more difficult than ever. Money had a way of slipping through her fingers in a most unaccountable fashion, but it never distressed her for long. It was only when she was forced to deny herself or her children anything, that it affected her usual placid demeanour.

As Eddie threw himself full length on the couch in the morning room, and turned his fair handsome face towards his mother, her heart smote her that she could not shower upon him all that he desired. Was there ever such a generous, affectionate boy? A boy who, in

spite of his great popularity in his regiment and in garrison society, was never so happy as when at home. His winning, confiding tones, his merry laugh, his careless indifference when in his home to anything outside it, his genial kindness to all below him in station; all these traits endeared him to those who knew him, and to his mother in particular.

At last came the usual question from Mrs. Tracy :

"How are you getting on in your regiment, Eddie ?” The boy laughed, and began tossing his signet ring into the air.

"Best not ask, mater. I'm an awfully unlucky fellow. I'm sure there isn't a soul on earth that means better, and-and does worse! Old Holmes follows up his advantage of being a friend of the family by coming down on me like a sledge hammer on the slightest pretext. By the By the way, I must tell you a good story. I changed my servant about a couple of months ago, and I have a chap who worships the ground I tread on. I happened to get an act of injustice righted, of which he was the victim, and he'd go to the very d― beg pardon -er-well he'd cut off his hand if I asked for itthat sort, you The other day old Holmes sent a summons for me; there were two or three of us having a game of whist together, and I was riled, so I turned on Giles-my servant, you know-Tell the colonel his last dose was too strong, and I can't take another on top of it just yet.' 'Yessir,' says Giles, and away he bolted. He'll repeat that in dead earnest,' said one of the fellows, and I laughed, for I didn't think he was quite a fool. Sure enough, the chap goes straight into the ante-room of the mess, where he finds the colonel.

know.

Bobby Cray was there, and he told me Giles' mind misgave him when he met the colonel's eagle eye. A message from Mr. Tracy, sir.' "Yes?' says old Holmes, looking as if he could eat him. Giles looks hot and perturbed. Please, sir, the physic you sent him didn't agree with him, sir, and he can't drink no more, sir, please at present, sir!'”

Mrs. Tracy looked quite scandalised, and her son chuckled.

"My dear Eddie, your colonel!” "Well, was it my fault, mater? I walked into Giles well when I found him out, but, I can tell you, it's the latest joke in barracks, and my 'physic' has been down all the fellows' throats. Old Holmes had the gumption to let it pass. Don't you let on if I tell you, but he is dead nuts on Olive, and her brother gets some of her reflected glory, otherwise there might have been no end of a row."

"I think Olive rather likes him," said Mrs. Tracy meditatively. "And perhaps, if it did come to anything, it might be a good thing for you."

"It might, and it mightn't. I think I would rather the old fellow was kept in a bit of uncertainty and suspense. It makes him monstrous civil to me."

"I am glad," Mrs. Tracy said hesitatingly, "that you are getting on well. I was afraid from your

Eddie made a comical grimace at her, then thrust his hand in his pocket and drew out a sheaf of bills.

"Just look at these! I thought I'd bring them to you in case you might be able to help me through any of them. The beggars won't wait, and threaten to ap

peal to old Holmes. It is scandalous-the way they refuse to trust the word of a gentleman ! ”

Mrs. Tracy put on her glasses, and in an agitated manner took up some of the bills to look at them.

"My dear Eddie," she said, "these are dated two years ago, when first you joined your regiment. I thought we had settled all those; there must be some mistake."

Eddie shrugged his shoulders.

"I can't say. Who can possibly remember that time off? If they haven't the gumption to get their money at the time they ought to, I can't help it.”

"It is no use my looking at them," said Mrs. Tracy, with a little sigh, " for I have no money in hand. I can do nothing more this quarter."

Eddie's face fell, then it brightened.

"Look here, mater. This is the tip. You write a note to one or two of the nastiest of them and tell them you will be responsible, and will send them what is due within the next week or two. That will quiet them, I

fancy."

Mrs. Tracy looked dubious; she knew better than her son that she was already behindhand with her own quarter's bills, but she had not the strength of mind to say so. "You can leave them with me," she said at length, "and I will see what I can do.”

Then she added nervously :

"You need not mention the matter to Olive."

Eddie laughed.

"Olive keeps the purse, does she? She ought to be the head of the family. Ah! talk of her, and here she comes!"

Olive came in, her hands full of primroses, and her face radiant.

"Oh, Eddie, you naughty boy! And I told you to stay away. How long have you been here?”

A little later and they were gathered in the schoolroom for tea, Mrs. Tracy in the most comfortable chair, her eyes glistening with pleasure as they rested on her son, and she listened to his light-hearted badinage. And then in the midst of much chatter the door opened, and "Lady Muriel" was announced. A sweet-faced girl with pale golden hair and delicate complexion presented herself, and was seized upon at once by Olive.

Why, Dot! home again? When did you come ? " "Last night, and I'm so tired of being a tourist. What is Eddie doing here?"

"It isn't desertion," he responded, drawing up a chair with great deference to the newcomer, and seating himself as near her as he conveniently could.

"His colonel is away or he wouldn't have had leave," said Olive quietly.

Lady Muriel laughed.

"We are both in the same box. My father hurried back to some committee dinner in town, so I came off here at once. Mrs. Tracy, will you keep me to dinner? I am so dull at home.”

"My dear Dot, you know we shall be delighted."

"And I will see you home," said Eddie, trying to restrain the eagerness in his tone.

"Thank you, but I told them to send the carriage if I did not turn up in time for dinner."

Eddie's face fell, and Elsie remarked in her slow way: