AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY 377 « Oh, of course we can put him up! Can he speak English?”

“ He speaks a little English, and is improving fast.”

Does he dress as a native ? ” ‘Ho, Aunt; he would soon freeze to death in his native garb. As soon as I got down to Cairo with him I put him into good European clothes. He is a fine specimen of a Soudan Arab, but when he came to me he was somewhat weakly; however, he soon got over that.”

“ Where is he now ? ” He is with the trap outside, I told him that he had better not come in until I. had seen you, for I thought that your domestics would not know what to do with him till they had your orders.”

“You brought your portmanteau with you, I hope?” “ I have brought it, but not knowing whether it would be wanted, for I did not know whether you would take sufficiently to me to ask me to stay.”

“The idea of such a thing! You must have had a bad opinion of us.”

“Ho, Aunt; I had the best of opinions. I am sure that my father would not have written as he did to you unless he had been very fond of you; still, as at present I am not proved to be your nephew, I thought that you might not be disposed to ask me to stay. How, with your permission I will go and tell Zaki—that is the man’s name—-to bring in my portmanteau ; I can then send the trap back.”

“ Do you know, Gregory,” one of his aunts said that evening, “ even putting aside the fact that you are our nephew, we are delighted that the title and estates are not to go to the next heir. He came down here about a year ago, his regiment had Just returned from the Soudan. He drove straight to the hall and requested to be shown over it, saying that in a short time he was going to take possession. The housekeeper came across here quite in distress, and said that he talked as if he were already master ; said he should make alterations in