Year: 1878

Quoting the ordinary affairs of life, for
Jock was not romantic, and would have
no patience with stratagems in love,
whatever he might approve Of in war
Mr. King, however, not being possessed
by the same love or fear or reverence
for Jock as his sister was, things
were likely to come to crisis, whether
she approved or not, when light thrown
suddenly up revealed her brother to Liz
zie as man who could commit an error
of judgment, and who was subject to
weakness like his fellow-mortals.


She had been pondering matters one
afternoon, and feeling very happy and
little perplexed, when she went to the
kitchen to speak to Hebe. She stopped
at the door and in half-dumfoundered
tones said, " Jock !"


There unquestionably was the pru-
dent, wise sub-inspector of mines stand
ing on the hearth, his arm lying over
Hebe's shoulder and his face bent down
over hers.


Jock Hebe Maud Muller it is,
and hadn't ought bel" hurriedly ex-
claimed Lizzie all in breath.


SIT had ought to be, and it is," said
Jock determinedly.


Hebe in her gown and white effect
and her crimson ribbons was looking
down at her little hands, anxiously
pulling the corner of her muslin apron;
the round open face was perfectly pale,
where in general it was rose pink her
under lip hung down slightly and quiv-
cred her big blue-black eyes were dewy
she said:


" 1t wasna me, Miss Elliot: I've often
told him was no match for him."


Lizzie thought she had never seen
her look half SO attractive; the grief
and joy and fear blended in her face
were sight which she only wished Mr..
King could have seen, having an eye to
her lovers reputation.
You are a match for any man in the
county, Hebe," Jock said. drawing her
close to him. "And you are mine as
sure as my name is Jock Elliot; and
'wha daur meddle VII me'p"


81 would not take him, Hebe, if
were you: he'll do nothing but drive
pegs into your mind, and bother you
with spelling and grammar You'll
carry on her education, Jock?" said his
sister, laughing.


At that moment the back door opened
and Uncle John entered: he stood an
instant and surveyed the group, then
passed into the parlor without a word :;
but after tea he asked his nephew to go
out and look at something with him,
and then made use of the opportunity
he had made.


"Now, lock" he said, "what L saw in
the kitchen is to go no farther it is to
stop at once. That girl is no wife for
YOU"


I" I am the best judge of that" said
Jock with hauteur.


mo, you are not" his uncle said /:
"you are no judge at all. If you were
to marry that girl, you would repent it
to the end of your days. Take her
youth from her, and what have you
left Be prudent and be advised"


"Time will take the youth from her
and me too, and prudence may be car
ried too far" said Jock.


His uncle WINGED. Why" he said,
she is nothing but bright little ami
NAL if she were kitten she would run
round after her tail. I'll never consent
to it, Jock"


$50 be it," said Jock. It's a point
on which no man shall dictate to
me-"


When Nelly heard of the matter from
her husband she said:


" Impossible Jock marry a little
vain, silly, flirting servant-girl I'll set
her to write letter to him, and it will
give him fright it will hardly be the
thing he would like to see from his
wife's hand. But his father and mother
will prevent it (: he can't be allowed to
ruin himself"


Jock was the favorite nephew of John
and Nelly. Hebe did not write, how
ever: she had had sense enough not to
commit herself where she knew she was
awfully wanting; but if she had, the it,
literateness of her production would on.
ly have seemed to Jock another claim
for extra tenderness there was actually
not the shadow of crevice in his mind
through which the imprudence and fol
ly of his intentions could gain admit
tance.