My part is taken--I'll fawn on no man for an inheritance which should be mine by birth." Miss M'Intyre laid her hand on her brother's arm, and entreated him to suppress his vehemence.

"Who," she said, "injures or seeks to injure you, but your own hasty temper ?--what dangers are you defying, but those you have yourself conjured up ?--Our uncle has hitherto been all that is kind and paternal in his conduct to us, and why should you suppose he will in future be otherwise than what he has ever been, since we were left as orphans to his care ?" "He is an excellent old gentleman, I must own," replied M'Intyre, "and I am enraged at myself when I chance to offend him; but then his eternal harangues upon topics not worth the spark of a flint--his investigations about invalided pots and pans and tobacco-stoppers past service--all these things put me out of patience.

I have something of Hotspur in me, sister, I must confess." "Too much, too much, my dear brother! Into how many risks, and, forgive me for saying, some of them little creditable, has this absolute and violent temper led you! Do not let such clouds darken the time you are now to pass in our neighbourhood, but let our old benefactor see his kinsman as he is--generous, kind, and lively, without being rude, headstrong, and impetuous." "Well," answered Captain M'Intyre, "I am schooled--good-manners be my speed! I'll do the civil thing by your new friend--I'll have some talk with this Mr.Lovel." With this determination, in which he was for the time perfectly sincere, he joined the party who were walking before them.

The treble disquisition was by this time ended; and Sir Arthur was speaking on the subject of foreign news, and the political and military situation of the country, themes upon which every man thinks himself qualified to give an opinion.

An action of the preceding year having come upon the tapis, Lovel, accidentally mingling in the conversation, made some assertion concerning it, of the accuracy of which Captain M'Intyre seemed not to be convinced, although his doubts were politely expressed.
"You must confess yourself in the wrong here, Hector," said his uncle, "although I know no man less willing to give up an argument; but you were in England at the time, and Mr.Lovel was probably concerned in the affair." "I am speaking to a military man, then ?" said M'Intyre; "may I inquire to what regiment Mr.Lovel belongs ?"--Mr.Lovel gave him the number of the regiment.