The true northerner., 1872-01-05


whether he really had been introduced
to peer of the realm, and, if so, what
the name Of the peer was, for he had
failed to catch it as spoken by Ran
thorpe. One of the club servants, gor-
geous in livery, stood near, and the
moment was opportune. Middlemist
hastily asked "the name OF that gen.
tleman."
(which gentleman ?" the pampered
menial loftily inquired.
"The gentleman talking to Mr.. Ran
thorpe"
"Why, Lord Eglamour, to be sure,"
the bloated minion replied, disdainful
of the ignorant churl to whom the per-
son of one of the most resplendent
young noblemen was unknown. Mid
dlemist could have clasped the hand of
the scornful liveried hireling-could
have pressed it to his bosom. He had,
then, been presented to Lord Eglamour
Nay, Eglamour, now springing lightly
into his cab, actually nodded friendly
salute to our venerable acquaintance as
he drove away.
snow, my dear Middlemist," Ran
thorpe said, as he put his arm familiarly
under that OF Theophilus-" for / must
treat you as friend, you know-if you
will just walk few steps with me"
/" Certainly certainly any where"
answered the delight Briton. Oh, if all
his rural neighbors could only have
been in Pail Mall to see him in such
goodly company!
We'll, then, my dear Middlemist,
you know, of course, my friendship for
your nephew; and you know the rela.
tionship in which l stand to Lydia
Ranthorpe."
Perfectly, perfectly" affirmed Mr.
Middlemist, although he was by no
means clear as to the relationship.
Every good. Now, you see, you and
! are men Of the world. Paul Middle
mist is devilish fine fellow, and all
that, and Lydia Ranthorpe is charm
ing girl and they have been making
love awfully, and I'm afraid I've been
to blame for encouraging them. You
see, my dear Middlemist, Pm afraid it
won't do. There are olders who would
never consent-never-if they knew
how things stood. There is an elderly
male relative, sir, who would be inflexi-
BILE as adamant. Paul talks Of running
away with her, and on my word, the
girl is so infatuated abort him that she
would 60 off tomorrow if he were to
ask her. But, to be frank with you,
she has next to nothing absolutely her
own; and he has nothing and what's
the use? Will the love they are so rich
in make fire III the kitchen, and so
on? | thought it right to put you up
to this, as a man of sense and judgment.
And | only ask you to use your inhu-
ence and authority and advice, and so
forth. | pledge you to nothing except
that, Of course, you will never betray
my confidence. And, let what will
come of it, now my mind is free"
Ny dear SIR began the bewldered
and delighted Middlemist, " how shall |
express my gratitude for this remarka-
ble, this generous, this--in fact, this"
"Not one word, Middlemist; not one
word more, if you please" We have
both said enough-perhaps I've said
rather too much devilish delicate
affair, you know And the best thing
we can do now is to make no further
allusion to it, Assume that a bird of
the air has whispered something to you,
and let us two go on as if we had never
exchanged syllable on the subject. And
now, my dear Middlemist, you must
come and have luncheon with me and
two or three other fellows. No, | can
take no denial or excuse; you really
must | want to make you acquainted
with some pleasant friends, whom
think you will be glad to know"
The rejoicing and bewildered Middle.
mist enjoyed his luncheon immensely,
although he could hardly eat morsel
for pride and happiness. Never had he
been in the company of such swells
before. They were let us borrow our
names for the sake of illustration) Lord
Pendennis, the Earl of Warrington, Sir
Give Newcome, the Honorable Fred
Bayham, and several others, every one
having title, and yet all as gracious to
old Middlemist as though he were one
of themselves. They talked about Paul
Middlemist as if he were their brother;
and one or two rallie Lord Pendennis
somewhat inconsderately on his having
been supplanted by Paul in the affec-
tons of a certain fair Lydia. His lord
ship, however, bore the quizzing with all
the bland good humor Of polished
English nobleman. Not the faintest
flicker of doubt ever crossed Middle
mists mind as to the genuiness of the
whole affair. Why should not Lord
Pendennis be as genuine as Lord Egla-
mour, and of the latter there was no
question.
When the party was breaking up,
Tom Ranthorpe pressed Middlemist's
hand and whispered: Remember my
warning! Prevent this foolish love.
affair from going any further. Interpose
in time, or don't blame me afterward T.
Middlemist murmured rapturous
thanks, and made for the railway sta
ton in condition Of chuckling ecstasy.
Tom Ranthorpe and his brilliant
company had jolly evening together.
But as Cinderella, when the clock has
struck twelve, changes from splendor
to rags, so now did his lordship and the
earl and the honorable and the rest,
come down to a merry gathering of
brieAess barristers and struggling artists.
They had been playing little comedy,
in fact, got up by Ranthorpe for the be.
guilement of "the old snob, Middle
mist ~ They were not OyerscrllpIllOus