and more than once even his parents were compelled into hearty laughter at his sallies.

When the meal was finished, we were all invited to the School-room, to see the young people's gifts to the Workhouse Christmas Tree before they were sent away. Everyone had contributed something, for Mrs. Percy had taught her children early the luxury of denying themselves for the sake of others, and we were all to go to-morrow to see the gladness which would come into the faces of the poor, homeless little ones, as each came up in turn to the fairy tree. Jack alone seemed to have forgotten his duty, and Gertie looked at him rather reproachfully. His brothers and sisters seemed surprised too, for selfishness was certainly not one of Jack's faults, and he had never before failed on these occasions. He stood enjoying the scene for a few seconds, and then, with considerable effort, produced something from beneath his jacket, and held it up for public inspection. A burst of laughter greeted its appearance, and the younger members of the family screamed with delight. There was no mistaking the object, for the likeness was perfect. Jack had cut out a large cardboard figure, with loose limbs, and these were brought into action by a piece of string worked from behind. On the oval head-piece he had drawn with emphasised accuracy, the well-known features of the church beadle, and had so contrived his machinery, that with one pull of the string Mr. Jonas Bubb's attenuated legs and arms moved, in cobbler fashion, just as one might see them in real life any day of the week; while his eyes and mouth assumed that scowling expression with which the workhouse boys were only too familiar on the Sunday. It was indeed a triumph of caricature, and Jack was complimented on all hands.

"But what has it to do with the Christmas tree ?" asked his father. "Can't you guess?" replied Jack; "why it's the most appropriate offering of the whole lot, and I'll be bound will earn me more gratitude than anything else that's given away to-morrow. It's for poor Dick Arber the organ blower, who hates Bubb like poison because he bullies him so. Dick hasn't half his buttons (I admit they have tried to make 'em up on his workhouse corduroys) and old Jonas thinks he can make him a regular fetch-and-carry on that account. I caught him the other day, after service, punching the poor chap's head because he wouldn't stop to lock up the church--and I'll promise you I gave him a bit of my mind," added the lad indignantly. "Well now, I've tried to find a solace for Dick's hours of retirement, and I flatter myself I've succeeded. He's got his enemy here in regular leading strings, and can make him dance just when he likes. I think I could die happy," Jack went on, with a melodramatic air, "if I could see Jonas scowl at him as usual next Sunday, and get this held up from behind the organ by way of reply."

Mrs. Percy, amused as she was at her son's explanation, looked at her husband dubiously. The latter smiled grimly, and insisted on Jack's gift going with the rest.

It was now time for "Babs" and the one other denizen of the nursery to retire for the night, and then the rest of us were to sit down to a

game at "speculation" which for years had formed an important part of the Christmas Eve programme at the Doctor's. The table was cleared, a huge bowl of Spanish nuts brought forward, and Jack proceeded to shuffle the cards with the proficiency of an adept. The bank had scarcely been divided, and the first pool made, when the parlour maid entered with a tray bearing a visiting card.

"Mr. Jeremiah Smith," said Dr. Percy, reading from the card. “This, then, is our expected visitor from Edinburgh, mamma." And he left the room to welcome him.

"I wish Mr. Jeremiah Smith was at Jericho!" exclaimed Jack in disgust. "Why can't he make his appearance some other night, instead of breaking up our party just as the fun is going to begin."

"Jack, dear," said his mother gently "I'm sure he will not break up our party, and I particularly wish you to behave properly to him. There is a special reason why you should do so," she added earnestly.

"All right, Mother," replied Jack, "for your sake I'll do my best; but what a name to glorify Smith with-Jeremiah -My stars! he must have had a nice time of it at school with both Jeremiah and Smith !"

In a few minutes Dr. Percy re-appeared, and introduced his visitor. We saw before us a tall young man of decidedly professional aspect (“a regular sucking Physician" Jack said sotto voce to me). His long black hair was brushed carefully back behind his ears, and a beard of ample growth covered the upper part of his closely-buttoned frock-coat, while a pair of spectacles, with double glasses, seemed to tell of over much study by lamp-light. He bowed gravely to each of us, and then, turning to his host, expressed a fear that his visit under such circumstances was an intrusion on our family party. He spoke in the softly deliberate manner peculiar to most medical men, but with a decided lisp, which I felt certain would prove too much for Jack's good manners before the evening was over.

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"On the contrary, Mr. Smith,” replied the Doctor, we are delighted to see you. Any friend of Forsyth Burns is welcome here, and you can either sit down and join the family in an old-fashioned game at cards, or we two professionals will leave them to it and have a chat by ourselves."

Mr. Smith glanced deliberately at the table, and then at each member of our circle.

"I'm afraid I don't know much about cardth," he said, "but it would be a great treat to me to feel like a youngthter wonth more; and if you were going to play yourthelf, doctor, I think I thould like to join you." Mrs. Percy looked pleased at this decision, and a chair was placed at her side for the visitor.

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May I beg to be allowed to thit a little farther from the fire?" he asked apologetically. "Perhapth the young gentleman yonder would not object to exchange platheth with me," and he looked at Jack, who was sitting by Gertie, and had already entered into partnership with her.. The "young gentleman" looked as though he didn't mean to stir. "Jack!" exclaimed his father, sharply.

“Well, I thuppothe I mutht, father," drawled Jack, with so exact an imitation of the stranger's manner, that I could with difficulty keep from laughing outright. But an angry glance from Dr. Percy told his son that he had gone too far, and had better not repeat his insolence; so leaving Gertie with ill-concealed reluctance, he made room for Mr. Smith in the coveted place.

"Will you acthept me for a partner, Mith Dawthon?” asked the latter, apparently heedless of Jack's bad manners. "It will be a great thackrifithe on your part, but I fear without thome one to look after my interethth I thall be a bankrupt in no time.”

"O certainly, Mr. Smith, if you wish it," replied Gertie, smiling, "but I hope you are not of so speculative a turn as my friend Jack, yonder, or our capital will soon vanish.”

"I will protheed with the utmotht caution," said Mr. Smith, in tones so solemn as to justify Jack's whisper that “it sounded as if he was going to assist at a bad amputation case.”

The game commenced, and soon caused the usual amount of merriment and noise. It was curious to see how the character of each individual developed itself in his or her mode of play. Caution, fear, hesitation, ruled amongst the more timid ones; quiet, steady calculation on the part of others, including our host and his wife; while Jack led the more venturesome spirits in a course of hazardous and reckless speculation. Mr. Jeremiah Smith was a uniform loser, sometimes by luck, but oftener by the inopportune nature of his ventures. He would give more for the "turn-up" than anybody else, and generally purchased a queen just before the king came out to supplant her claim. Jack was in ecstacies.

"You'd better have stuck to your first love, Miss Gertie," he said, pointing to the great pile of nuts lying before him; "I fancy your present partnership is about on its last legs." And Gertie was obliged to confess so too, for they had only three nuts between them.

"I don't know how it ith we are tho unfortunate Mith Dawthon" said Mr. Smith, with great deliberation, and he placed his hand abstractedly on Gertie's, as if to feel her pulse.

Jack roared, and so did everybody else except the speaker, who looked round in innocent surprise.

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Speculations of another kind are more in our way, I expect," said Dr. Percy laughing, and looking knowingly at his guest.

"And yet," the latter replied "your thon George ith the betht card player in Edinburgh."

If a gun-shot had been fired into the room it could scarcely have produced a more startling effect than this remark, so quietly and deliberately made. A dead silence fell on all of us, and we looked first at the speaker and then at each other. Mrs. Percy dropped her cards, and Gerty turned very pale, while I was on the point of questioning our guest impetuously. A look from the Doctor restrained me, and evidently struggling with himself, he asked calmly, "Then you know my son, Mr. Smith ?"

"Thertainly" he replied, with an air of surprise, "I thought Mr. Burnth had told you tho."

"He has" said Dr. Percy, "but my family were not aware of the fact until this moment, and when I tell you that we have heard nothing of our boy for two years, you will understand the painful interest your sudden allusion to him has awakened."

"But you don't mean to thay you have been ignorant of hith whereabouth, and what he hath been doing all the time?”

"It is so," replied the Doctor, "and I have been tempted to think there must be some sad reason for his silence, or he would not have treated his mother and myself so unkindly."

Mr. Smith blew his nose rather elaborately.

"Can you give us such news as may be heard by all present, or will you step with me into my study?" and the father looked anxiously at

his visitor.

"I don't mind thaying that hith family are a great deal too good for him," replied the latter, more sharply than he had yet spoken, and then he gazed intently on the ceiling. This was more than the poor mother could bear.

"O, tell us something Mr. Smith, I beg of you. This suspense is worse than the truth, whatever it may be. Is George still in Edinburgh, and what is he doing?

"He wath in Edinburgh. yetherday, my dear Mitheth Perthy," said Mr. Smith, "for I thaw him, and he thent hith love to you all."

"But why, why didn't you bring him with you?" she asked excitedly, and her tears began to fall.

"I wath going on to thay" he replied, with a deliberation that was rapidly provoking me beyond all endurance, "that he intendth to dine. with you to-morrow, and

But the remainder of the sentence was lost in the delighted shout of the children; and a sudden sense of thankfulness and joy came into the hearts of all of us.

Gertie alone looked distressed, as though she wanted to escape from the room, for, to add to her mental troubles, the stranger's hand had again sought hers, and held it an unwilling prisoner.

"I've thomething in my pocket here that I wath to hand to hith father," and releasing Gertie, he took a number of letters from his pocket, selected one, and passed it to Dr. Percy. The latter quickly tore it open, and produced two pieces of paper which brought a bright smile to his face.

"I'm not afraid to hear what Mr. Smith has to say now," he said. "This "—and he held up one of them--"is the hundred pounds I lent to George, and the other is a ten pound note, representing the interest which he declared he would pay on my loan. My lad is true metal after all," and he strode across to Mr. Smith and shook his hand vehemently. His hopefulness became contagious, and even Gertie's eyes began to sparkle with a new eagerness.

"I'm glad the letter ith thatethfactory, Doctor." said our visitor, "and although George will be here to thpeak for himthelf by-and-bye, I may ath well tell you at wonth, that if you and hith mother have been grieving about him, there wath no reathon at all for it. He hath been my motht intimate friend at Edinburgh for the two yearth you thpeak of, and though, ath I have thaid, he ith the betht card player I know, he would very rarely indeed indulge in a game. He wath bracketed gold medallitht with me latht year, and the wortht thing I have to thay againtht him ith, that he wath the only fellow in the Univerthity I could not beat. Ath for our printhipal, Dr. Ferguthon, he not only wanth him to leave Mr. Burnth and take the potht of Athithant Demonthtrator, but I verily believe would not object to him for a thon-in-law. Mith Maggie ith a fine girl, too, and at the latht Provotht'th Ball she theemed uncommonly thweet on him herthelf.”

Again came the pallor over poor Gertie's features, and this last item of intelligence was as a drop of gall in our cup of happiness. I thought it time to lead her away from a scene which bade fair to become too painful for her, and rose from my seat for the purpose. But my intention was suddenly checked by a remarkable proceeding on the part of master Jack. This young gentleman had been unaccountably silent for some time, and seemed unable to take his eyes from Mr. Smith. Our visitor had evidently begun to possess some secret fascination for the lad, and had no sooner finished speaking, than Jack, to the astonishment of everybody, walked straight up to him and slapped him in the most familiar manner on the back. "Look here, Mr. Jeremiah Smith" he said, "you are a very clever fellow in your own estimation, I dare say, and with a few more lessons you would make a decent sort of actor, but I haven't been to Uppingham for nothing, and that's an old trick at the School Play.” "Ladies and gentlemen" he added, turning to his amazed listeners with a theatrical air, while they looked on in utter dismay, "you are now about to behold a wonderful transformation scene. Be kind enough, Mr. Jeremiah, to remove that learned wig of yours, the exquisite fit of which an unkind pair of gig-lamps has somewhat disturbed; and allow me to pluck the beard from off a chin which I am sure itches to be rid of its unaccustomed burden." And, suiting the action to the word, he made a rapid assault on his victim before the latter could defend himself. Off came beard, wig, and spectacles in quick succession; and ere we could utter a single exclamation, George Percy himself stood confessed before us all!

I will not attempt to describe the scene that followed; my readers can imagine it for themselves. They need hardly be told, either, that this little plot had all been arranged between Mr. Forsyth Burns and his pupil, and that what the former had said about Mr. Jeremiah Smith was literally true of George Percy. And as our long-lost favourite stood before us, with the old winning smile, and with two years of added manliness gracing his comely presence, he looked a son of whom his parents might henceforth be proud indeed.