Part 11 (2/2)

'I hope my umbrella's safe, laddie,' were her last words as her son wrapped her in his plaid

'As safe as the Union Bank,' he replied

So we left her there, for the waiter had taken coffee into the verandah

Aunt, soars, and explained to Moncrieff that she did not object to s, but _did_ like to see men happy

Moncrieff smiled

'You're a marvel as well as my mither,' he said

He smoked on in silence for fully five ar frohtfully; then he would allow his eyes to follow the curling s it with a shosts do

'Mr Moncrieff,' said aunt, archly, 'I knohat you are thinking about'

Moncrieff waved his hand through a wreath of sht

'If you were a uessaboutabout you and your britheries--I mean your nephews'

'You are very kind, Mr Moncrieff'

'I'h I wasn't aye a man of the wo_rrr_ld I had to pay deep and dear for my experience, Miss M'Crimman'

'I can easily believe that; but you have benefited by it'

'Doubtless, doubtless; only it was concerning yourselves I was about to make an observation or two'

'Oh, thanks, do You are so kind'

'Never a bit This is a weary wo_rrr_ld at best Where would any of us land if the one didn't help the other? Well then, there you sit, and woe corner of it You're in a foreign land now if ever you were You have few friends Bah! what are all your letters of introduction worth? What do they bring you in? A few invitations to dinner, or to spend a week up country by a wealthy _estanciero_, advice from this friend and the next friend, and froetting puzzled

You don't knohat to do for the best You're stopping here to look about you, as the saying is You ht of brotherhood, I may answer By birth and station you may be far above me, but--you are friends--you are from dear auld Scotland

Boys, you are my brothers!'

'And I your sister!' Aunt extended her hand as she spoke, and the worthy fellow 'coralled' it, so to speak, in his big brown fist, and tears sprang to his eyes

He pulled himself up sharp, however, and surrounded himself with smoke, as the cuttle-fish does with black water, and probably for the same reason--to escape observation

'Now,' he said, 'this is no time for sentiment; it is no land for senti to do? Si to oing to begin?'

'We were thinking--' I began, but paused

'_I_ was thinking--' said hed, but not unmannerly