and to think o' its being scratched, and set before the travellers and folks - and my letters on it - see here - E. D. - and everybody to see 'em.'

`Ah, dear, dear!' said aunt Pullet, shaking her head with deep sadness, `it's very bad - to think o' the family initials going about everywhere. It niver was so before: you're a very unlucky sister, Bessy! But what's the use o'buying the tea-pot - when there's the linen and spoons and everything to go, and some of 'em with your full name - and when it's got that straight spout too.'

`As to disgrace o' the family,' said Mrs Glegg, `that can't be helped wi' buying tea-pots. The disgrace is, for one o'the family to ha' married a man as has brought her to beggary. The disgrace is as they're to be sold up. We can't hinder the country from knowing that.'

Maggie had started up from the sofa at the allusion to her father, but Tom saw her action and flushed face in time to prevent her from speaking. `Be quiet, Maggie,' he said, authoritatively, pushing her aside. It was a remarkable manifestation of self-command and practical judgment in a lad of fifteen that when his aunt Glegg ceased he began to speak in a quiet and respectful manner, though with a good deal of trembling in his voice, for his mother's words had cut him to the quick.

`Then aunt,' he said, looking straight at Mrs Glegg, `if you think it's a disgrace to the family that we should be sold up, wouldn't it be better to prevent it altogether? And if you and my aunt Pullet,' he continued, looking at the latter, `think of leaving any money to me and Maggie, wouldn't it be better to give it now, and pay the debt we're going to be sold up for, and save my mother from parting with her furniture?'

There was silence for a few moments, for every one, including Maggie, was astonished at Tom's sudden manliness of tone. Uncle Glegg was the first to speak.

`Ay, ay, young man - come now! You show some notion o'things. But there's the interest, you must remember - your aunts get five per cent on their money, and they'd lose that, if they advanced it - you haven't thought o' that.'

`I could work and pay that every year,' said Tom, promptly. `I'd do anything to save my mother from parting with her things.'

`Well done!' said uncle Glegg, admiringly. He had been drawing Tom out, rather than reflecting on the practicability of his proposal. But he had produced the unfortunate result of irritating his wife.

`Yes, Mr Glegg!' said that lady, with angry sarcasm. `It's pleasant work for you to be giving my money away, as you've pretended to leave at my own disposial. And my money as was my own father's gift, and not yours, Mr Glegg, and I've saved it and added to it myself and had more to put out welly every year, and it's to go and be sunk in other folks's furniture, and encourage 'em in luxury and extravagance as they've no means of supporting, and I'm to alter my will or have a codicil made, and leave two or three hundred less behind me when I die - me as have allays done right and been careful, and the eldest o' the family, and my money's to go and be squandered on them as have had the same chance as me, only they've been wicked and wasteful. Sister Pullet, you may do as you like, and you may let your husband rob you back again o' the money he's given you, but that isn't my sperrit.'

`La, Jane, how fiery you are!' said Mrs Pullet. `I'm sure you'll have the blood in your head, and have to be cupped. I'm sorry for Bessy and her children - I'm sure I think of 'em o' nights dreadful, for I sleep very bad wi' this new medicine - but it's no use for me to think o' doing anything, if you won't meet me half way.'

`Why, there's this to be considered,' said Mr Glegg. `It's no use to pay off this debt and save the furniture, when there's all the law debts behind, as 'ud take every shilling and more than could be made out o' land and stock, for I've made that out from Lawyer Gore. We'd need save our money to keep the poor man