"What will you give for him, Godfrey?" and the delighted father bent down to receive the clasp of the white arms, and the kiss of the impatient child.
"That's all I can afford. Perhaps he's not worth having after all;" and the spoilt child turned pettishly away.
Casting his eyes upon old Shock, he exclaimed, "Mercy! what an ugly dog. A perfect brute!"
"He was once a very handsome dog," said his father, as the groom assisted him to alight.
"It must be, a long time ago. I hope my cousin is better-looking than his dog."
"Why, what in the world have we got here?" said Mrs. Paisley, the housekeeper, who came to the door to welcome her master home; and into whose capacious arms the footman placed the sleeping Anthony, enveloped in his uncle's cloak.
"A present for you, Mrs. Paisley," said Algernon, "and one that I hope you will regard with peculiar care."
"A child!" screamed the good woman. "Why, la, sir; how did you come by it?"
"Honestly," returned Algernon, laughing.
"Let me look at him," cried the eager Godfrey, as soon as they entered the room where supper was prepared for his father; and pulling the cloak away from his cousin's face,—"Is this dirty shabby boy the playfellow you promised me, papa?"