am with the style of individuals who are honoured with your friendship!" "Oh, of course," replied Reginald, becoming again somewhat perturbed in mind. And he proceeded, though with considerable hesitation, to mention the names of those to whom he had given invitations. Mrs. Seymour stopped him at Mr. Edmund Hastings. "The others will be welcome," she said, in a firm, peremptory voice, which Herbert, had he been present, would scarcely have recognised as belonging to his gentle mother. "But you had better write at once to Mr. Hastings and Captain Lyndock, and put them off. I would not for the universe dine at the same table with either of them!" Reginald stared at her in open-eyed astonishment, too much bewildered to speak. 66 'Perhaps, my dear," suggested Mr. Seymour, in a soft, insinuating voice, such as never failed, in by-gone days, to have the desired effect; "as the invitations are given, we might for this once make an exception. Now that Reginald knows your wishes on the subject, he will never think of asking them again." "Decidedly not," said the young man, energetically; "I had no idea- 99 "If they dine here, I shall not!" exclaimed Mrs. Seymour, in a short, decided tone. Mr. Seymour found himself on the horns of a dilemma. He was fully alive to the importance of seeking by every possible means to conciliate his wife, more especially at the present juncture; and yet, on the other hand, he felt reluctant to expose Reginald to the mortification of being obliged to withdraw the invitations he had that very morning freely given. 66 "To prevent these désagrémens for the future," continued the lady, rising from her seat and ringing the bell, preparatory to leaving the room, it may be well for you to recollect, that, being yourself a guest in this house, it would be more consonant with good taste were you to go through the form of consulting my wishes and convenience previous to undertaking the responsibility of entertaining guests at dinner." The colour flew into Reginald's cheek at this well-merited reproof; but as he made no attempt to exculpate himself, Mr. Seymour said excusingly, 66 "I assure you, my dear, it was mere thoughtlessness—nothing more!" "Very likely," replied the lady, with a little curl of her upper lip. "The fact of his poor grandfather having always allowed him to invite any one he pleased to the house," pursued her husband, in an apologetic tone, “should 66 "Yes, I have heard of that!" said Mrs. Seymour, with a short, dry laugh. 'However, this is nothing to the purpose," she added slowly and with evident determination: "if we had been going to dine alone to-day, I would, notwithstanding my utter detestation of these young men, raise no objection to their company, as I could quite easily absent myself from the table; but I expect the Crossleys, and perhaps Mr. and Mrs. Limerick, therefore it is altogether out of the question. Burns," she continued, turning to the old butler, who just then entered the room, "Mr. Grafton has invited four gentlemen to dinner, in addition to the guests concerning whom I have already given orders. These four gentlemen you will admit, but I wish you to give the other servants to understand that, in the event of Mr. Hastings or Captain Lyndoch calling, we are not at home. Do you comprehend Burns?" me, 66 66 'Perfectly," returned the old man, bowing and retiring. 'Now, Reginald, I am sorry to appear harsh or abrupt, but it was necessary that this matter should be settled at once, as I have several calls to make before dinner. You will have abundance of time to write a letter of excuse to these two gentlemen (or, if you prefer it, call on them), and you are quite welcome to lay the blame ou me." Thus saying, Mrs. Seymour swept out of the apartment with an air of calm dignity, and a look of firmness and resolve, such as her face was rarely known to wear. An interval of silence succeeded her departure, broken by Reginald blurting out, "'Pon my word, I'm terribly sorry! I couldn't have believed, though, she'd take it up like that." "You should have sounded her before committing yourself, my boy," said Mr. Seymour, smiling at his dismayed countenance. "And so I would," returned the young man, somewhat regretfully, "if I had had the faintest suspicion that she was so desperately prejudiced." "But, after all," observed Mr. Seymour, with a good-humoured attempt at consolation, "it's only two out of the six that your aunt objects to." 66 True," replied Reginald; but it was spoken very hesitatingly. "And then you must remember that nothing can be easier than for you to write to Hastings and Lyndoch, and invent a likely excuse for not being able to receive them this evening." "Yes," said the young man, endeavouring to smile. "But "—this he added almost inaudibly-"I would rather offend all the others than him." "What?" exclaimed his uncle, struck by something peculiar in his manner. "Do you mean Hastings?" "Well-yes," returned Reginald, colouring, and growing more and more confused under Mr. Seymour's searching gaze. "Why should you be so desirous to keep well with him?" demanded the latter, laying his hand meaningly upon the young man's arm; "you surely are not in his power!" 66 In his power!" repeated Reginald, in a husky whisper; "oh, no, of course not." And he tried to force a laugh. But it would not do. His uncle's words had evidently touched some sore spot in his memory. 66 Now, Reginald, tell me the plain truth," said Mr. Seymour, kindly, yet firmly: "what have you to fear from this man?" After a little demur, Reginald was persuaded into an avowal of his true position. Since his grandfather's death he had, according to his own confession, been living beyond his means. When he became aware of this astounding fact, he tried several methods, not of lessening his expenditure, but of getting his annual income increased. Failing in this (for General Clare had prudently made arrangements which precluded his reckless heir from possessing any positive power over the bulk of his property) it occurred to his speculative mind that if he could contrive to step into the vacant niche in Mr. Seymour's favour and affection, it might conduce very considerably to his pecuniary advantage. So far, his hopes had to a certain extent been realized; for though the old debts were still unpaid, he had, previous to his intimacy with Mr. Hastings, refrained from contracting fresh ones, and he knew that his uncle would, if occasion required, act in the most liberal manner towards him. But he was not prepared for the various temptations which assailed him on his first introduction to his new friends; and even if he had been aware of their approach, he wanted the necessary firmness and strength of mind to resist them. Among their other failings, Edmund and his associates were all inveterate card-players, and Reginald, who greatly prided himself upon his own skill, greedily joined with them in this questionable amusement. He was beaten again and again,-Edmund Hastings' long familiarity with continental gambling houses having initiated him into all their mysteries, and made him more than a match for any except those who had enjoyed similar advantages; and when, in a fit of pique and feverish excitement, he strove to retrieve his losses, he only increased and augmented them. "It is to Mr. Hastings you owe the greater part of these debts of honour, I presume?" said Mr. Seymour, after patiently listening to this recital-told, you may be sure, in very different language, and softened and embellished, so as to make Reginald Grafton appear in the light of a much-injured individual! The young man answered in the affirmative. "And he is probably beginning to intimate that he has already waited long enough for payment," pursued his uncle, with a smile of conscious power. "You are right, sir,” exclaimed Reginald, hotly; "indeed, he was scarcely civil to me when I asked him to wait for a short time longer." "Yet, knowing this, you invited him here!" remarked Mr. Seymour, in surprise. "Yes," returned Reginald rather confusedly; “I knew it would annoy him exceedingly if I, in giving an invitation to the others, excluded him." He did not further explain that, having boasted to Mr. Hastings of his expectations as Mr. Seymour's probable heir, and alleged this as a strong inducement for requesting him to consent to the proposed delay, his unprincipled friend had tauntingly replied that before he could give credence to Reginald's assertion he must have ocular demonstration of the close and affectionate terms on which he professed to be with his uncle, and likewise be enabled to form his own conclusions as to the chance he stood of finally coming in for the property. Stung to the quick by this insult, and yet obliged to conceal his feelings, lest Mr. Hastings should insist on the immediate liquidation of his debts, Reginald conceived the idea of inviting him and his friends to the Park, hoping thereby to impress them with a sense of his own importance of being thus permitted to act independently of his uncle and aunt, and also afford Edmund Hastings the opportunity he desired of satisfying himself regarding Mr. Seymour's sentiments and intentions. CHAPTER LXIII. THE LETTER BAG. "They come !-those shadowy phantoms, I scorn them, yet I fear them, Alas! I see them there!" ANON. "It's a confounded pity," continued Reginald, with a stealthy glance at his uncle," that I should have been fool enough to let Hastings get the better of me in this fashion. I quite expected to be a match for him; but An expressive shrug completed the sentence. 66 Well, it can't be helped now," replied Mr. Seymour, in a tone well calculated to raise the young man's expectations. "If I had known there was the least danger of your becoming intimate with him, I would have warned you against having anything to say to him, as his character is far from irreproachable; but you will, I dare say, learn a lesson from this little contretemps, and be more circumspect for the future in your choice of friends." "Indeed I shall!" was the answer, accompanied by a hypocritical sigh. 66 Very good," returned Mr. Seymour, approvingly. "Now, if you promise me that you will immediately drop Mr. Hastings' acquaintance, I will enable you to free yourself from this debt!" "Oh, thank you a thousand times, my dear uncle !" cried Reginald, with an extravagant affectation of gratitude. "There's no fear of my wanting his acquaintance after this, I assure you; but I scarcely know how to express my-" "What is the amount?" inquired Mr. Seymour, taking out a small pocket-book, and preparing to note down the figures. Reginald reluctantly named the sum total. But when he saw that, large though it was, Mr. Seymour entered it in his book without a word of comment, he began to recover his wonted assurance, and even to wish (I blush to own it, yet it is a fact) |