“’Ah, when you know us better, and are not so shy of us as strangers, we shall find out you are as clever again as you pretend to be, dear Mr. Franz!’

“‘I’ll tell you what,’ added the old partner, coming up at this moment, ’it’s a perfect treat to me, Mr. Franz, to have a young man like you in my house!  You’re your father over again, and I can’t praise you more.  He was the most modest, unobtrusive man in all our town, and yet knew more of his business than all of us put together.’

“‘No, no, I can’t allow that,’ cried the motherly wife.

“‘Nonsense!’ replied the old partner.  ’However, my dear boy—­for I really must call you so—­it was that very thing that made your father’s fortune; I mean that he was just as unpretending as he was clever.  Everybody trusts an unpretending man.  And you’ll make your fortune too in the same manner, trust me, before long.  Now, boys!’ added he, turning to his sons, ’you hear what I say, and mind you take the hint!  As for the young puppies of the present day, who fancy themselves fit to sit in the chair of their elders as soon as ever they have learnt their alphabet, and are for thrusting themselves forward in every company—­Mr. Franz, I’ll own it to you, because you will understand me—­I have no patience with such rude, impertinent Jackanapeses, and always long to kick them down-stairs.’

“The old partner stood in front of Mr. Franz as he spoke, and clenched his fist in animation.  Mr. Franz sat on thorns.  He first went hot, and then he went cold—­he felt himself kicked down-stairs as he listened—­he was ready to cry—­he was ready to fight—­he was ready to run away—­he was ready to drop on his knees, and confess himself the very most impertinent of all the impertinent Jackanapes’ race.

But he gulped, and swallowed, and shut his teeth close, and nobody found him out; only he looked very pale, which the good mother soon noticed, and said she to her husband:-

“’My dear love, don’t you see how fagged and weary it makes Mr. Franz look, to hear you raving on about a parcel of silly lads with whom he has nothing in common?  You will frighten him out of his wits.’

“‘Mr. Franz will forgive me, I know,’ cried the old partner, gently.  ‘Jacintha, my dear, fetch the wine and cake!’

“The kind, careful souls feared he was delicate, and insisted on his having some refreshment; and then papa ordered the young people to give their guest some music; and Franz sat by while the sons and daughters went through a beautiful opera chorus, which was so really charming, that Mr. Franz did forget himself for a minute, clapped violently, and got half-way through the word ‘encore’ in a very loud tone.  But he checked himself instantly, coloured, apologized for his rudeness, and retreated further back from the piano.

“Of course, this new symptom of modesty was met by more kindness, and followed by a sly hint from the merry Jacintha, that Mr. Franz’s turn for singing had come now!