feel that there is not the full tie of blood between us and them, remembering that our father was their father, and that their mother is dead as well as ours."

So spoke Lindsay, in a low voice, as she stood leaning by the hearth; the light shining on her hands that hung down loosely linked together, her face being hid in shadow, as it always seemed to be when she betrayed more emotion than her ordinary life expressed.

There was no more said between the brother and sister, and Ninian soon rose and went down stairs. But ere leaving the house he came up once more. Lindsay was still standing by the fire, her hands folded-that quiet passive attitude into which they seemed naturally to fall. It was her habit; one of the many outward tokens of inward character.

Ninian went up to his sister and kissed her-but gravely, as if it were a rare thing between them. She leaned her head on his shoulder for a minute, and then followed him to the hall-door. From thence she went down to the kitchen and up to the drawing-room, busying herself in all housewifely preparations until that most nondescript, abundant, and agreeable meal-a Scotch tea-dinner-was smiling on the board. This done, she went and stood by the fire in her old attitude, from the which she never moved until the loud ring at the door-bell announced that "the children" were come.

It was a decided misnomer to call them children. The two eldest-I speak advisedly, for one glance proclaimed them twins-were "sonsie lasses (no other term will suit them so well), apparently about twenty. There was another girl, who was evidently that fortunate, fairy-gifted one, the "youngest princess" of the family; and there were two or three boys scattered in and about the line of girls for which the Græme family had once been renowned, until in the late Professor's household the numbers of each sex became nearly equal. Altogether, there were six to be counted. Ninian stood at the door and let them pass him by, one by one, to receive the greeting of "Our Sister," as Lindsay was called par excellence. It seemed

to be a tacit agreement, that while the others had their various Christian names, Ruth and Esther, Edmund, Christina, Reuben, Charles, bandied about under all sorts of odd nicknames and diminutives, Ninian and Lindsay were emphatically called "Brother" and "Sister."

The whole tribe had rushed in from their journey with a tired forgetfulness of every thing but the relief of coming home; and for some minutes the house was alive with voices; Katie, poor old soul! being summoned hither and thither till it almost drove her crazy. But when, one after the other, the young travellers assembled to tea in the old familiar room-where every thing looked the same, save for the one missing presence that would be among them no more-then a great quietness came over all. The twins crept nearer to each other, and Christina, ever the readiest either to laugh or weep, hid her face on Lindsay's shoulder. But no one spoke a word.

They gathered round the table--Lindsay sitting where she had presided for some years as mistress of her father's household. Opposite to her was that father's empty chair. Each glanced that way, and then all eyes were lowered. None looked up, and all kept silence as Ninian came in and took the vacant place. There was a pauseas if each waited for the ever-silenced voice; and then Ninian, in his low quiet tones, said the grace.

"Lord, we thank Thee for these and all Thy mercies; and forgive us our sins, for Christ's sake. Amen."

And all felt this to be the token whereby their brother took upon himself the duties, responsibilities, and rights of eldership, and became henceforth the Head of the Family.

It was a goodly sight-as indeed it always is-to see what may truly be termed a Family! Israel's king surely knew it, when he likened it to a table set round about with olive-branches-always a fairer table than one without. Perhaps Ninian, too, thought thus; and after the first sorrowful cloud had passed away from the circle, it was with a sense not only of duty but of pleasure that he looked round on his young brothers and sisters, having a kindly and a cheerful word for each.

Well, and what sort of a journey was it? have nearly filled the coach yourselves."

You must

"We wanted all to come outside," said Ruth, the one of the twins who generally took the lead, in virtue of a more serious demeanor, and fifteen minutes' more experience of life than her sister Esther. "We thought," she added, looking down," that now we ought to be more careful of expense. But our friends at Lanark overruled all, and took places for us girls inside."

"And much good their kindness was to Tinie, at least," said Reuben, an old-fashioned looking, mathematical-headed little fellow, whose face might indicate any age from thirteen to thirty. "Tinie actually insisted on coming outside before we had travelled half-way, though we were driving through a mist that I could almost have cut with a knife."

"Tinie! Tinie!" said Ninian, with a reproachful shake of the head to the lassie who sat next to him, the "youngest princess "—and a creature beautiful and blithe as youngest princesses always happen to be; in fact, the flower of the family, so far as looks went, and as such evidently worn by "Our Brother" in his heart of hearts.

"I couldn't help it," pouted Tinie's pretty lips. "It was so dull inside, and Ruth and Esther did nothing but talk to one another, which they always do, telling me to 'go out of the way, as I'm only a child.' A child, indeed!"

"You ought not to behave like a child, then," answered the grave Reuben," and especially before a minister. Mr. Forsyth travelled with us, brother; and I'm sure he must have been shocked at the way she went on, chattering like a magpie."

"I always do so on principle, to douce, quiet, saint-like young men of his description. It rouses them, and brings them down to the level of this world. For the same reason I shall keep on pulling Edmund's hair occasionally" -and she suited the action to the word,-"or else, as now, he'll be floating off into the clouds, and we shall hear no more of him."

Edmund, poor victim, turned round with a patient air

and a "What did you want, Christina?" He had a more thoughtful look than any of them, and in his face was the delicate beauty of boyhood. The features were goodthe mouth especially; but its form, while indicating great sensitiveness and susceptibility, had a want of firmness in the lines, from which a physiognomist would augur ill. In short, no one could much observe Edmund Græme without a feeling of interest and affection (for his sweet nature was evident in his whole mien), nor yet without a certain anxious looking forward to the problem of life which the boy had yet to solve the great battle of life which he had yet to fight.

No embryo genius was ever a prophet in his own country. As Edmund woke up from his reverie, a smile went round the circle; and when, with varying color and knitted brows, he began desperately wielding his knife and fork, the smile grew into a titter. Especially as Charlie, the wag and scape-grace of the family-in every family there is always one-took advantage of the conclusion of the meal to mount guard behind "Ned's" chair, and there perform a succession of heroic and sentimental attitudes for the especial amusement of every one but the unconscious youth himself.

-Of every one, save Ninian, who had been called away, and Lindsay, who sat by the fireside in her usual place. A momentary shade troubled her countenance as she regarded the young group, saying to herself, "Two months -and forgotten already." But she knew that youth is youth-transient even in its deepest emotions; and that God meant it should be so. Otherwise, which of us could ever bear life's burden into middle age?

Ninian soon re-entered the room. They were all collected round the fire-some sitting, some standing. One only place was left vacant-the great leather arm-chair, which the father had used to fill. Charlie, with his customary thoughtlessness, was about to take possession of it by jumping in all-fours; but Reuben had held him back, whispering something which made them all grow silent and grave.

"Any room for me, children ?" asked Ninian, as he stood on the outside of the circle round the fire. The younger boys answered by moving the arm-chair to its olden spot, while Edmund took his brother by the hand and placed him in it. It was a mute acknowledgment from them all of the double relation which he was in future to hold -elder brother and father.

Ninian evidently felt it. He sat down, held his hand. over his eyes for a few moments; then his grave, quiet, affectionate smile lightened around on them all, and each knew without more words that the family bond was sealed.

They soon seated themselves round the fire; Lindsay at her work, the twins lounging together on the sofa, and Tinie crouched on the hearth-rug, her two little hands folded over Ninian's knee. Edmund sat opposite, leaning on his elbows, and looking dreamily into the fire. Which said fire Reuben also contemplated with equal intentness, though with different motives, being evidently bent on making discoveries in gas; for whenever a small jet of flame appeared, he poked at it with such determined energy that the peace of the rest of the company was considerably disturbed. Charlie also contributed a few of those trifling annoyances which seemed necessary clouds to diversify the beauty of the family atmosphere, amusing himself at intervals by awakening the cat, and hunting her from corner to corner with a vivacity of delight, which proved the truth of the celebrated remark, "that man's natural propensity was to hunt something."

An hour or two passed in this manner, and then, when some chance allusion had made the conversation grow serious and subdued, Ninian said gravely,

"Children "-he frequently called them "children," though not in an overbearing tone, with a sort of loving eldership-"there are a few things I want to talk to you about, or rather for us all to talk over together. Shall we do so now, or defer it until another time ?"

They all answered, "Now!"

"I think so too; there is nothing like doing what must