"I can not help him," exclaimed Mr. Clifford, abruptly--"I have

not the means to spare. My own family need everything that I can

give. He has himself only to blame. He chose his profession for

himself. I warned him against it. He needn't send to me."

"Do not mistake me, Mr. Clifford," said Mr. Edgerton, calmly.

"Your nephew knows nothing of my present visit. I would be loath

that he should know. It was the singular independence of his mind

that led me to the conviction, that he would sooner die than ask

assistance from anybody, that persuaded me to suggest to you in

what manner you might afford him an almost necessary help, without

offending his sensibility."

"Humph!" exclaimed the other, while a sneer mantled upon his lips.

"You are very considerate, Mr. Edgerton; but the same sensibilities

might prompt him to reject the assistance when tendered."

"No, sir," replied Edgerton, mildly--"I think I could manage that."

"I am sorry, sir, that I can not second your wishes in any material

respect," was the answer of my uncle;--"but I will see Edward, and

let him know that my house is open to him as it was from, the time

he was four years old; and he shall have a seat at my table until

he can establish himself more to his satisfaction; but money, sir,

in truth, I have not a cent to spare. My own necessities--"

"Enough, sir," said Mr. Edgerton, mildly; "I take it for granted,

Mr. Clifford, that if you could contribute to the success of your

brother's son, you certainly would neither refuse nor refrain to

do so."

"Oh, surely--certainly not," replied the other, hastily. "Anything

that I could do--anything in reason, sir, I should be very happy

to do, but--"

And then followed the usual rigmarole about "his own family," and

"hard times," and "diminished resources," and all those stereotype

commonplaces which are for ever on the lips of stereotype insincere

people. Mr. Clifford did not perceive the dry and somewhat scornful

inuendo, which lay at the bottom of Mr. Edgerton's seemingly innocent

assumption; and the latter took his leave, vexed with himself at

having made the unsuccessful application--but still more angry with

the meanness of character which he had encountered in my uncle.




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