’The parrot may stay at home, I do not care about it:  but I cannot bear quarrelling; it is not my temper, you naughty, very naughty boy.’

‘My dear mother,’ continued his lordship, in a soothing tone, ’these scenes always happen when people are going to travel.  I assure you it is quite a part of packing up.’

‘You will be the death of me, that you will,’ said the mother, ’with all your violence.  You are worse than your father, that you are.’

‘Come, mother,’ said her son, drawing nearer, and just touching her shoulder with his hand, ‘will you not have my Christmas-box?’

The mother extended her cheek, which the son slightly touched with his lip, and then Mrs. Cadurcis jumped up as lively as ever, called for a glass of Mountain, and began rating the footboy.

At length the postchaise was packed; they had a long journey before them, because Cadurcis would go round by Southport, to call upon a tradesman whom a month before he had commissioned to get a trinket made for him in London, according to the newest fashion, as a present for Venetia.  The commission was executed; Mrs. Cadurcis, who had been consulted in confidence by her son on the subject, was charmed with the result of their united taste.  She had good-naturedly contributed one of her own few, but fine, emeralds to the gift; upon the back of the brooch was engraved:—­

    To Venetia, from her affectionate brother, plantagenet.

‘I hope she will be a sister, and more than a sister, to you,’ said Mrs. Cadurcis.

‘Why?’ inquired her son, rather confused.

‘You may look farther, and fare worse,’ said Mrs. Cadurcis.  Plantagenet blushed; and yet he wondered why he blushed:  he understood his mother, but he could not pursue the conversation; his heart fluttered.

A most cordial greeting awaited them at Cherbury; Dr. Masham was there, and was to remain until Monday.  Mrs. Cadurcis would have opened about the present immediately, but her son warned her on the threshold that if she said a word about it, or seemed to be aware of its previous existence, even when it was shown, he would fling it instantly away into the snow; and her horror of this catastrophe bridled her tongue.  Mrs. Cadurcis, however, was happy, and Lady Annabel was glad to see her so; the Doctor, too, paid her some charming compliments; the good lady was in the highest spirits, for she was always in extremes, and at this moment she would willingly have laid down her life if she had thought the sacrifice could have contributed to the welfare of the Herberts.

Cadurcis himself drew Venetia aside, and then, holding the brooch reversed, he said, with rather a confused air, ‘Read that, Venetia.’

‘Oh!  Plantagenet!’ she said, very much astonished.

‘You see, Venetia,’ he added, leaving it in her hand, ‘it is yours.’

Venetia turned the jewel; her eye was dazzled with its brilliancy.