three. However, that has nothing to do with it. I am really awfully sorry,

Harry. You have been a thundering good elder brother. I hated to think

that you had to shell out last time, and I have quite made up my mind that

you sha'n't do it again."

 

"Well, it cannot be helped; it is no fault of yours; still, of course, it

is a nuisance. Thank God that no harm has come to you, that is the

principal thing. Now, sit down and go on with your pipe, you young monkey.

I did not think you had taken to smoking."

 

"One has to," the lad said, "everyone else does it; and there is no doubt

that, when you have got the middle watch on cold nights with foul winds,

it is a comfort."

 

"Well, go on smoking," his brother said. "I will light up too. Now shut

your mouth altogether. I want to think."

 

They were silent for fully ten minutes, then Harry said;

 

"I told you about that business of mine with Miss Fortescue."

 

Bertie grinned all over his face, which, as he sat, was not visible to his

brother. Then with preternatural gravity he turned towards him.

 

"Yes, you told me about it; an uncomfortable business wasn't it?--surly

old father, lovely daughter, and so on."

 

"I will pull your ear for you, you young scamp," Harry said wrathfully,

"if you make fun of it; and I have a good mind not to say what I was going

to."

 

"Say it, Harry, don't mind my feelings," the lad said. "You can't say I

did not stand it well when I was here last week, and gave you no end of

sympathy. Go ahead, old fellow; I dare say I shall be taken bad some day,

and then I shall be able to make allowances for you."

 

"I'll have nothing more to say to you, you young imp."

 

"Don't say that, Harry," the lad said in a tone of alarm. "You know how

sympathizing I am, and I know what a comfort it is for you to unburden

yourself; but I do think that it won't be necessary to go into personal

descriptions, you know, or to tell me what you said to her or she said to

you, because you told me all that ten days ago, also what her tyrannical

old father said. But really seriously I am awfully sorry about it all, and

if there is anything that I can possibly do for you I shall be only too

pleased. I don't see that it would be any advantage for me to go and give

the old gentleman my opinion of him; but if you think it would, and can

coach me in some of his sore points, we might see how we could work upon