CHAPTER X.
"Randal," said Mrs.Leslie on this memorable Sunday,--"Randal, do you think of going to Mr.Hazeldean's ?" "Yes, ma'am," answered Randal.

"Mr.Egerton does not object to it; and as I do not return to Eton, I may have no other opportunity of seeing Frank for some time.

I ought not to fail in respect to Mr.Egerton's natural heir." "Gracious me!" cried Mrs.Leslie, who, like many women of her cast and kind, had a sort of worldliness in her notions, which she never evinced in her conduct,--"gracious me! natural heir to the old Leslie property!" "He is Mr.Egerton's nephew, and," added Randal, ingenuously letting out his thoughts, "I am no relation to Mr.Egerton at all." "But," said poor Mrs.Leslie, with tears in her eyes, "it would be a shame in the man, after paying your schooling and sending you to Oxford, and having you to stay with him in the holidays, if he did not mean anything by it." "Anything, Mother, yes,--but not the thing you suppose.

No matter.

It is enough that he has armed me for life, and I shall use the weapons as seems to me best." Here the dialogue was suspended by the entrance of the other members of the family, dressed for church.
"It can't be time for church! No, it can't," exclaimed Mrs.Leslie.