for finding fault with it when it came. Indeed, I scarcely imagine he detected any difference; and if he had done so, he would have attributed it to another cause than the actual one. "Now, papa, shall we finish up with three cheers for Mr. Seymour? cried Albert, anticipating the workmen's next move. "I was about to make the same proposition," replied Mr. Snapson, with amazing cordiality; "I will myself lead you off!" Which he did, to the unbounded surprise of every one, not excepting Herbert, who could hardly credit the evidence of his senses at this unwonted stretch of politeness on the part of his stiff and sometimes uncourteous neighbour. He (Herbert) briefly responded to the enthusiastic acclamations which the mere mention of his name had called forth, and then moved hastily aside, as if afraid to trust himself to say another word. 66 Here," exclaimed Albert, in a quick excited whisper to Mr. Greyson, who stood immediately behind him; "as soon as we are gone, give them this, and tell them to go and drink our— "No, no," eagerly interposed Herbert, arresting the boy's hand, as he was forcing the before alluded-to bank-note upon the perplexed manager; "don't encourage them to do that, Albert." "Why not?" he demanded a little petulantly; "I want them to enjoy themselves." "There would be no true enjoyment in what you propose," rejoined Herbert, impressively; "on the contrary, it might be made the means of doing some of these warm-hearted follows incalculable harm." "Harm?" echoed the boy, as he held the bank-note suspended between his finger and thumb, and twisted himself round in order to obtain a clearer view of Herbert's face. 66 'Yes," pursued the latter; "I should be sorry indeed if you were to tempt them to revisit scenes which they have of late abandoned." "What can I do with this, then?" questioned the lad, glancing ruefully at the money; "how else could they spend it?" 66 'I'll tell you an idea that has sometimes occurred to me," replied Herbert, after a moment's reflection; "but as it is as yet very unformed, you must promise me not to speak of it until I give you leave." "Make haste and let me know what it is," said Albert, evasively, and by way of emphasizing his request he impatiently seized the young man's hand in both his own. Herbert smiled at his eagernes, and stooping down lest he might be overheard, he resumed, "I should like, if it could be managed, to invite them all-men women, and children too—to tea one evening, say next week, or the week after, and then 66 66 Ah, that will be jolly!" exclaimed Albert, in an ecstasy of delight. Managed!" he repeated thoughtfully, "of course it can be managed! Will it cost much, Mr. Seymour? because I have lots more money." 66 'Oh, no," said Herbert greatly amused at the air of naive importance he always felt bound to assume." Besides, my friend Sir Edward Stanley is ever ready to afford me practical assistance on these occasions, and having both the will and power, his but what is trou bling you, dear Albert?" he asked, patting him kindly on the head, as he observed that the boy's nostrils began to quiver with suppressed emotion; "you shall help too." "Oh, I fancied you were going to do it all yourself, and that would be very unkind," said Albert, quite reanimated by this assurance. "Where shall we have the tea?" "I scarcely know yet," returned Herbert; "I did think of the large shed where we hold our meetings, but it would hardly accommodate them all, I fear." “Oh, I have it!” cried Albert, gleefully rubbing his thin hands together. "Papa, papa," rushing up to him, without paying the slightest attention to our hero's earnest remonstrances; " Papa," he repeated for the third time, "I want you to grant me a favour!” CHAPTER LVII. ALBERT'S BIRTHDAY PARTY. "How difficult you will find it to convince a miserly heart that anything is good which is not profitable !"-Sterne's Sermons, "There are none of selfish mind, There are none to lord it o'er God's redeemed and humble poor; Every shred of priestly pride Lays of the Future. "A FAVOUR!" re-echoed Mr. Snapson, glancing surreptitiously at the manager, with whom he had been conversing; "are you not yet satisfied, my boy?" "No, papa; but I shall be if you will agree to this little request," said Albert, coaxingly. 'H'm," replied his father, eyeing him dubiously; "you must first explain your meaning." "You know it will be my birthday to-morrow," commenced the lad, and then he stopped for want of breath. "Ah! I had positively forgotten that important fact," exclaimed Mr. Snapson, with the smile which he rarely accorded to any one else. And I want you to give these men a holiday," continued the boy, rapidly. Mr. Snapson contracted his brows. "And let me provide them with a comfortable tea," added Albert, ignoring this token of dissatisfaction. "Tea!" ejaculated Mr. Snapson, simultaneously raising his hands and eyes in the purest astonishment; "what new-fangled scheme is this?" "Be quick and decide, papa," was his son's irrelevant answer. "Mr. Greyson is signalling the men to retire; and unless I speak at once they will be gone." "But I cannot understand your object, Albert," remonstrated the gentleman. O papa!" "And even if I did both comprehend and approve of it, I do not see how it could be properly carried out." "I'll manage that," returned Albert, excitedly; "if I have your leave, it's all I want." Mr. Snapson looked perturbed. There seems no end to his whims," he muttered, sotto voce. "I scarcely know what is coming over the lad." "May I do it, papa?" persisted Albert, in happy unconsciousness of the rebellious state of his father's feelings at this fresh act of interference. "It will be a far better way of spending my money than letting the men drink it away at the public-house." Mr. Snapson stared aghast. "What an alternative!" he remarked, with a sickly smile; adding, after a momentary pause of consideration, "I will ask Mr. Seymour's opinion." And hastily moving to Herbert's side, he briefly repeated Albert's desire. "I don't half understand it," he said, slightly shrugging his shoulders; "but I hardly like refusing him anything on his birthday. If, therefore, you consider it a feasible scheme, I shall place no obstacles in the way of its being carried out." "There will be very little time for making our preparations," replied Herbert, shaking his head half reproachfully at Albert; "but I have no doubt we can manage it." "I can't say that I approve of this system of giving holidays," pursued Mr. Snapson, discontentedly. 46 Just for once, papa," pleaded Albert. "The afternoon will be quite sufficient," rejoined Herbert. 'Ah, yes," assented the gentleman, in obvious relief, 66 it will." "I don't think so," interposed the impetuous boy. "of course “Hush, Albert!" said our hero, lowering his voice; "we cannot reasonably ask for more." 66 'Well, you know best, I suppose," he replied in a subdued tone. "Here, Greyson," exclaimed Mr. Snapson, beckoning to the manager, will you be good enough to inform the men that to-morrow being the anniversary of my son's birthday, he wishes them to leave a few hours earlier than usual, and intends providing them with a tea in the evening. By the bye," he added, turning to Herbert, "where is this novel kind of entertainment to be partaken of." Before he could reply, Albert cried out, "Why should it not be here?" "Here!" repeated Mr. Snapson, glancing doubtingly around. "Yes; it is far larger than the shed, isn't it, Mr. Seymour? Herbert gave an affirmative nod. "And then, you know, we could quite easily get it furnished." "A few tables and forms are all we require," Herbert hastened to say, as he saw the shadow that came to Mr. Snapson's face at the thought of this additional expense, "and these I can easily borrow for the occasion." Mr. Snapson's countenance brightened, though he made no verbal response to the young man's offer, but, taking his arm, began to move away from the building, leaving Mr. Greyson to make what communication he thought proper to the workmen. Albert lingered behind for the purpose-as he observed on rejoining them-of explaining that it was not only the men he wanted, but also their wives and families! "What on earth do you want of them?" inquired Mr. Snapson, brusquely; "they will add considerably to the trouble "O papa, the party would be very incomplete without them." "Oh, if that is your idea, I need say no more," returned the gentleman, in a tone of affected indifference; but a certain drawing in of the upper lip showed that, while tacitly consenting to the arrangement, he was far from approving of it. "I fear, however," he continued, discouragingly, "that you have recklessly undertaken more than you will be able to accomplish." Albert looked up at him in astonishment. "How, papa?" he asked. "You have no conception of the difficulty of satisfying those rough and uncivilized creatures, my boy. If they possessed a spark of proper feeling or respect for their superiors, it would be another thing; but as a class they seem to be utterly devoid of gratitude." "Are you not judging them rather harshly?" inquired Herbert, trying to hide a smile. "To you it may perhaps appear severe; but during the whole of my long intercourse with their kind, I have never found cause to alter my opinion." "Do you see no redeeming traits in their character?" said the young man, stealing a furtive glance at the cold and impressible features of his strange companion. "None!" was the reply, uttered with gloomy decision. Herbert walked on for a short distance in thoughtful silence, scarcely knowing how to pursue the subject without giving Mr. Snapson offence. Presently the latter remarked in a lighter tone,— "Albert seems to take it for granted that you will afford him the benefit of your assistance on this occasion." Herbert bowed. "But as his demands are often most exorbitant," continued the indulgent father, "I hope you will unhesitatingly refuse "O papa! we could not get on at all without Mr. Seymour," eagerly interposed Albert, who felt quite appalled at the idea of embarking in such an important enterprise alone. "You forget that he has many other demands upon his time, my boy, and it may be inconvenient 66 Ah, but he will make time for this, won't you?"-coming round to Herbert's side, and looking confidingly up in his face. 66 'Certainly," he answered, with an affectionate smile; "I should regret it extremely, were I obliged to absent myself from such an interesting ceremony." "I wish we could think of some way of amusing them," observed Albert, reflectively. "A hopeless task, that," ejaculated Mr. Snapson. 66 Now, papa, it is a positive shame for you to abuse them so," cried Albert, with more warmth than filial respect. "I have no intention of abusing them," said his father, slightingly; "they are not worth the trouble." After their handsome behaviour, too," added the plain-spoken lad. "I was perfectly amazed at their cheering us so lustily." "I admit that so far they acted well," responded Mr. Snapson, his mind reverting with evident complacency to that part of their performance. "And then, you know, it was quite undeserved." "How undeserved?" peremptorily questioned the gentleman, a sudden flash reddening his cheek, and a stern, defiant light flashing from his eyes. |