THE OLD SECRETARY AND THE NEW.
Before Robert's entrance Frederic Vernon and his aunt had had a conversation. He had no idea that his aunt contemplated a change in their arrangements. She was a woman of a few words, and had been gradually making up her mind to dismiss her nephew from his post as secretary.
When he entered her presence at five o'clock he said apologetically, "I hope you had no important business for me this afternoon, aunt. I was unavoidably detained."
"Please explain, Frederic," she said composedly.
"At the Palmer House I fell in with an old schoolmate who wished me to dine with him."
"And you accepted?"
"Yes; I am awfully sorry."
"Your regrets are unavailing. This is not the first, nor the tenth time, that you have neglected your duties without adequate cause."
Frederic looked at her. She was not in the least excited, but she seemed in earnest.
"I see I shall have to turn over a new leaf," he said to himself. "My aunt is taking it seriously."