’Then I do tell you, Rotherwood, the truth is, that those boys, Maurice and Reginald, are perfectly unmanageable when they are left alone with the girls.’

‘Have a tutor for them,’ said the Marquis.

‘Very much obliged to you they would be for the suggestion,’ said Claude.

‘Oh! but Claude,’ said Lily.

’I really cannot go.  They mind no one but the Baron and me, and besides that, it would be no small annoyance to the house; ten tutors could not keep them from indescribable bits of mischief.  I undertook them these holidays, and I mean to keep them.’

Lilias was just flying off to her father, when Claude caught hold of her, saying, ‘I desire you will not,’ and she stood still, looking at her cousin in dismay.

‘It is all right,’ cried the Marquis, joyfully, ’it is only to set off three weeks later.’

‘Oh!  I thought you would not go a week later for the universe,’ said Claude, smiling.

‘Not for the Universe, but for U-,’ said Lord Rotherwood.

‘Worthy of a companion true, of the University of Gottingen,’ said Claude; ’but, Rotherwood, do you really mean that it will make no difference to you?’

’None whatever; I meant to spend three weeks with my mother at the end of the tour, and I shall spend them now instead.  I only talked of going immediately, because nothing is done at all that is not done quickly, and I hate delays, but it is all the same, and now it stands for Tuesday three weeks.  Now we shall see what he says to Cologne, Lily.’

Claude sprung up, and began talking over arrangements and possibilities with zest, which showed what his wishes had been from the first.  All was quickly settled, and as soon as his father had given his cordial approbation to the scheme, it was amusing to see how animated and active Claude became, and in how different a style he talked of the once slighted Rhine.

Lord Rotherwood told the boys that their brother was a great deal too good for them, but they never troubled themselves to ask in what respect; Lilias took very great delight in telling Emily of the sacrifice which he had been willing to make, and looked forward to talking it over with Alethea, but she refrained, as long as he was at home, as she knew it would greatly displease him, and she had heard enough about missish confidences.

The Marquis of Rotherwood was certainly the very reverse of his chosen travelling companion, in the matter of activity.  He made an appointment with the two boys to get up at half-past four on Monday morning for some fishing, before the sun was too high—­Maurice not caring for the sport, but intending to make prize of any of the ‘insect youth’ which might prefer the sunrise for their gambols; and Reginald, in high delight at the prospect of real fishing, something beyond his own performances with a stick and a string, in pursuit of minnows in the ditches.  Reginald was making contrivances for tying a string round his wrist and hanging the end of it from the window, that Andrew Grey might give it a pull as he went by to his work, to wake him, when Lord Rotherwood exclaimed, ’What! cannot you wake yourself at any time you please?’