No! family likeness is all very well in infancy, before the mind has begun to work on the face; but as a man's children grow, they ought to be less and less alike every year." "That little fellow," said the father, "seems to me to be exactly like what he was a year ago." "I observe no change." "Do you think he is an average child, John ?" John laughed.

"I think that little imp of mine, Hughie, could thrash him, if they chose to fight, and he is nearly three years the younger of the two.

No, I do not think he is an average child; but I see nothing the matter with him." Grand was not exempt from the common foibles of grandfathers, and he was specially infatuated in favour of the little Hugh, who was a most sweet-tempered and audacious child, and when his son went on, "Those two little scamps are getting so troublesome, that they will have to be sent to school very shortly," he said, almost in a grumbling tone, "They're always good enough when they're with _me_." So, in course of time, Mrs.and Miss Melcombe set forth on their travels; it was their ambition to see exactly the same places and things that everybody else goes to see, and they made just such observations on them as everybody else makes.
In the meantime Brandon, not at all aware that several people besides John Mortimer had noticed that he was out of spirits--Brandon also prepared to set forth on his travels.

He had persuaded several families to emigrate, and had also persuaded himself that he must go to their destination himself, that he might look out for situations for them, and settle them before the winter came on.

He was very busy for some days arranging his affairs; he meant to be away some time.