around the corner of the veranda attracted every one's attention.

"Down, sir, down!" cried a rough voice. "I'm neither thief nor tramp."

Another furious bark, then a low growl came in response, and baby Ned ran to his father with a frightened cry, "O papa, I's 'fraid doggie bite!"

"No, no, Neddie boy, papa won't let him harm his baby," the captain said, taking the little trembler in his arms, while Grace still kept close at his side.

The barking suddenly ceased, nor was the rough voice heard again, and Walter, running to the corner whence the sounds had proceeded, announced with a merry laugh that neither man nor dog was in sight.

"The chicken and the bee seem to have gone too," he added as he came running back, "and there's the tea-bell."

room.

With that all rose and repaired to the diningThere Marian was seated beside Lulu, the captain next, Grace on his other side, and Violet and her two little ones opposite them.

A blessing was asked and the plates were filled; then a lull in the conversation was broken by a rough voice saying in a sarcastic tone, "Now ef you folks was as perlite and hospitable as we are out West, you'd invite this stranger to take a

seat among ye and have a cup o' coffee and something to eat."

Almost every one looked startled and all eyes turned in the direction of the sounds, which seemed to come from behind Edward's chair.

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"An invisible speaker, as might have been expected," laughed Violet.

Show yourself, sir, take a seat at the table, and you shall be helped to all you wish of anything and everything upon it," said Edward, glancing about as if in search of the unexpected intruder.

"Show myself? Humph! keen-eyed you must be if you can't see a man o' my size,” returned the voice.

"Perhaps so, sir," replied Edward, turning a knowing and amused look upon Cousin Ronald, and I think I do see you very well. But have you been neglected? Your plate and cup look to me to be well filled."

"My plate and cup, sir?" exclaimed the voice in tones of indignant surprise. "Pray where are they?"

Directly in front of Mr. Lilburn―or Cousin Ronald, as we, his relatives, are accustomed to call him.'

"Why, laddie, I had thought you a hospitable host! and now would you rob me o' my supper which you have just bestowed upon me, and

give it to an unknown beggar-man?" exclaimed Mr. Lilburn in well-feigned astonishment and indignation.

"It does look very inhospitable, Ned; something to make me blush for my grandson," remarked Mr. Dinsmore, with a slight smile.

"Well, well," cried the rough voice, “it shall never be said of me that I set a family together by the ears. So I'll leave. Good-by."

A shuffling sound followed as of some one moving across the room in the direction of a door opening upon the veranda, then all was quiet. Every head turned in the direction of the sound, and as they ceased there was a general laugh; but the expression of Marian's countenance was perplexed and slightly alarmed. "Who-what was it?" she asked with a slight tremble in her voice.

"Nothing alarming, my dear," replied Grandma Elsie in her sweet gentle tones; "we have a ventriloquist with us, that is all; and he not infrequently kindly amuses us with an exhibition of his skill."

"Ah! and it is Cousin Ronald?" Marian returned inquiringly and with a half-smiling glance into Mr. Lilburn's genial face.

Returning her smile, "Ah, little cousin, you seem to be as good at guessing as if you were a born Yankee," he said pleasantly.

"But it can hardly be that you are the only one," she said, as with sudden recollection. "Captain Raymond," turning to him, "I think I understand now about some puzzling things that occurred while you were at our house year before last. You too are a ventriloquist, are you not?"

"No, my dear girl, by no means," he replied.

"Then I have not, as I believed, found a solution of the mystery," she remarked reflectively; "but I think some one else who was there must have been a ventriloquist; for I know not how else to account for some things that occurred at Minersville when you were there: the beggarboy and dog heard by four of us, but not seen; the voice speaking from the tree and the porch roof, that made Mr. Riggs so angry, and all that occurred on the evening of the Fourth, as you Americans call it."

"And that was doubtless the work of a ventriloquist," acknowledged the captain in a pleasant tone, "but I cannot claim any talent in that line."

66 Then who could it have been?" she said with a puzzled look. "Ah! perhaps the English gentleman or his son. I remember they were often there conversing with you and Master Max.'

Captain Raymond did not think it necessary

to reply to that remark, and other subjects of conversation were presently introduced. At the conclusion of the meal all repaired to the veranda or the grounds, and Cousin Ronald drew Marian aside for a little private chat.

"Tell me about your brother, lass," he said. "Is he happy? suited with his employment, think you?"

Marian hesitated for an instant, and then said frankly: "Poor Sandy longs for a good education, sir, but is willing to work hard and long for the means to pay his way in school and college."

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'He is a good, industrious lad?"

"Never a better one, sir; he did all in his power to make himself useful and helpful to our dear mother and to me. He is as industrious and painstaking a lad as ever was seen. I am proud indeed of my brother-the only one of my mother's children, besides myself, that is left."

"Ah, he should have, must have help," said Cousin Ronald, leaning meditatively on his gold-headed cane. "Marian, lass," turning inquiringly to her, "he wouldna refuse it frae his own auld kinsman?”

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"O Cousin Ronald, could you-have you it in your kind heart to help him to it? Bless you for it, sir! It would be the making of the