IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 " m 1.4 IIM 22 [20 1.6 v: iff //, dm. A e. .> ''S & o 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY 14S80 (716) 873-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D D n D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagde Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde et/ou pellicul^e I I Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes giiographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with othur material/ Relid avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La reliure serr^e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intdrieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches aioutiftes lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont paf; 6t6 filmdes. Additional comments:/ Commentaires supplimentaires: L'lnstitut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t4 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent sxiger une modification dans la m6thode normaie de filmage sont indiqu6s ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^es D n Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restaurdes et/ou pellicul^es y I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ ^ ' Pages d^color^es, tachetdes ou piqudes I I Pages detached/ Pages ditachdes Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of prir Quality indgale de I'impression Includes supplementary materia Comprend du materiel supplementaire FTj Showthrough/ I I Quality of print varies/ I I Includes supplementary material/ Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 film^es A nouveau de fapon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiqu6 ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X J 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X e 6tails IS du lodifier T une Image The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: La Bibliothique de la Ville de Montrfal The images appearing here are the best quality possible considering the cor'lltion and legibility of the original copy and in keeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exemplaire fitmA fut reproduit grAce A la gAnArositA de: La Biblioth^ue d« la Ville da Montreal Les images suivantes ont AtA reproduites avec le plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettetA de l'exemplaire filmA, et en cor.rormitA avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. iS Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover Wi^en appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol ^^ (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est imprimAe sont filmAs en commen^ant par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la derniAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, selon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmAs en commen^ant par la premiAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminent par la derniAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la derniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — ^> signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre filmAs A des taux de rAduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmA A partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite. et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. errata to pelure, >n A n 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 • MR. NAYDIAN'S Family Circle. 15Y Tin: AITIIOH OF *' LuSCR LUSTRATUS." (Montreal J. THEO. ROBINSON, Publisher. ^^»" Entered according to Act of Parlianipnt of Cana'J:i, in tho year one tliousjind eight lnuidrcd and liglity-uiiio, by J. Tm.o. KoiiiKSox, in llio ollicc of tlic Minister of Agricultun'. 111899 rUBLlSHER'S NOTE. Some say we Ik.vc a literature of „ur own ; and some s..y we have not. If not, who is to l,lan.e_the people who set whatever of literature we have aside as unworthy <,f support, or the despair of talent that becomes heedless of climbing higher for lack of encouragement? MR. NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. CHAPTEPt I. THE ARRIVALS. To look at Mr. John M. Naj'dian as he sat, or rather reclined, in his own drawing room on Christmas morn- ing, no one would, for a moment, have thought that he had ever passed through troublous times as a husiness man. And perhaps neither had he, considering the family 1 tacking he had always )iad in his ventures, though that is neither here nor there for our purpose. As he lay back in one of his own easy chairs, — the softest perhaps and most capacious in the room, — there was an air of prosperity about the whole person of the man that was strictly in keeping with the luxury of crimson and blue and gold tliat surrounded him on all sides. And really no one had a better chance of seeing this than ^Ir. Xaydian himself; for the position in which he lay enabled him to catch his own retlection in the wall of plate-glass and gold that repeated every thing in the spacious apartment. The picture in its retlected perspective was a very pleasant one. There was a rich- MR. XAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. ness about everything,', but there was a comfort too — the cosiness of wealth whose j^litter is not all C(»l(l <;ol(l. And Ml', Xayilian seoincfl to reconni/t^ this as lie IoIIlmI at his ease while contemplating; the jiiclure. There was a twinkle of satisfactiun in his eves as he took in tlie luxury of comfort around him. Indeed hut for what ]\rr. Xaydian lei fall by aecidenl, as he C(.>nlinued to speak to himself in a low purriuL? tone, and with the in- dex finger of his right hand making sundry smacking sounds against the back of his left, one would have thought, in seeing him lying there on ihe nujrning of his \\ ell earned holiday, that he had banished care from his mind, and was determined to play for a day atlea.st, the mil' wliich his father had played before him, and which others of his family were trying to play — the rnle of the man born witli a .silver spoon in his mouth. " Strange is it not," was what lie did say, " that but for the towering mightiness and dignity of one's own kindred, a miin might make out to be comfortable enough in a small way like mine. All that 1 have, I have made through my own — well, through my own what- ever-ve-like-to-eall-it. I have been industrious enouLdi, even if I have had some hel[) ; and though even now my patrimony be but small, yet it is by no means neces- sary for a man to I)e a merchant ])rince in order to enjoy the sweets of life. I am not a merchant prince by any manner of means, though there's no saying what may happen if we otdy have }»atience. Kome was not built in a day, nor was Benjamin Disraeli born a great num. The circumstances of fortune take their time in comiui; to the assistance of men who would be great, and of MR. XAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. nations, too. And wliatovor people may say of nio and my enteri»ri80s, I iln'iik I ha\(\ at l(\'ist, tlic liii)>)>y faculty of uiakini; the most nf my (Mrcumstnnces. I haven't mucli, and yet wluit liille I have is not so small C'onsiderini,' the api»eaituu'es it makes. These thin;jjs around me ai-e evideiieon of wealth siidlcienl to s\ip])ort my credit auiong my nei^hl)ours as a prosperous man, and are certainly (piite sullicieni, if not more than sunicient, for my personal comfort. They have cost, it is true enou^^h, a L;'ootl hit of money, and so has the whole of this cosy mansion of ui'uni. Ihit the money I have sp(!iit hoth on the house itsdf and on the estate, has, in my opinion, heini a good investment ; and so lony; as my l)usiness increases and 1 am ahh; to pay the interest of my del)ts, the old man is nut likely to look for the principal, however restless he may hecome at times." " I have had a very Ljood year of it, too," he con- tinued, as he i^ave an emphatic smack of satisfaction with his whole hand a^L,'ainst the hack of the other, "yes, a pretty j^ood year of it, taking- it on tlu; whole ; and if it only continues, there will he no reason to complain. That main avenue throu.uli the estate cost a pile of money thou^^h ; and 1 feel relieved that it is done and the last instalment paid; for though the money is only horntwed capital the interest is becomin,<4' heavy enough for me to meet, without further outlay. These young chaps of mine have not always had the pleasantest of looks, when I have had to inform them of the ultimate cost of the improvements on the estate, and Jack was, at one time, I think, almost on the point of writing home MR. NAYDUN'S FAMILY CIT^CLE. to the old man is such a way as to stoj: the supplies ; hut the fact that it will all _il;o to them and their chil- dren in tlie h*n,n run lias kt;pt them wilhin a reasona])le limit HO far; hesides, as l)usiness continues i^ood I tliink we shall he ahle to Jon alon^,' for some time without let or hinilrance," and Mi-. XavdianLrav(> a soft svm])athetic smack with his hands which sounded very like an a men to his solilo(|uy, as he rose to look closer at his face in the nearest mirror. It is needless for the reader to ask al)out "AFr. Nay- dian's aof, in face of the repeated attempts on the part of stranj'ers to make it out, to wilhin ten or twenty years of the reality. Some people even douhted if Mr Naydian knew his own a^e, thou<^di that was hardly po&sible considering the respectal)ility of his origin. It was even hardly possible tiiat his wife and family were not into the secret, if secret it niiyht be called. But the fact is very few people troubled themselves very much about the age of the man, unless when in society it happened to be put as a conundrum to some strauf^ers present — How old do you think Mr. Xaydian is? It was only then that the diversity of Jinswers, causing as they did no little merriment, led to a little thinking about the early career of the man, and the lirst begin- nings of his enterprises. Irrespective of his years, however, Mr. Nayense was to a large ex- tent owing to the ambiLiuiLy in that nentleman's own character, notwithstanding the failing which .society has of laughing at nearly everything, whether it tle.serves it or not. For if he was conceited and pompous at times, as a man of his prosperity has perhaps a right to be, he 10 MR,. NAYDIAN's family CIRCLE. m r I was the soul of good-nature in his freer moments, and would laugh at a joke un'il, as some one once said, luirdly an (junce of dignity was left in his soul or body ; while, on the otiier liand, his demeanour would some- times assume an aspect of sobriety and solenmity which would liave probal)ly found its counterpart only at some Quaker meeting or other, where as tlie poet says wo- fulness of countenance is expected to hang on the verge of tears for an indefinite period. And thus it was tliat the enigma of Mr. Jolni ]\I. Navdian's char- acter provoked more discussion by a half than the enigma about his age. But we have looked Ion" enoui^^h in the mirror of Mr. Naydiiin's drawing-room to be able to describe in some kind of perspective the appearance of the mau himself. As has been said, he is tall and fairly well-piopcrtioned, though his body droops a little to the right, as if lie carried a greater weiiiht on that side than on the other. He is seldom seen with liis right hand out of his coat pocket, which makes it appear as if it is in that pocket that he carries the extra weight ; while such a su[)po- sition is farther streuLtthened when he is seen everv now and again to give his right shoulder blade a .jerk as if that part of his body felt impatient at the extra bur- den imposed upon it. There is a little giving at the knee joints which may or may not mean something in the matter of life's increasing burdens ; and thouiih his shoulders be only a little stooped, yet his head bends forvvaid and exposes the shiny spot on the top which threatens to join the forehead soon but for a stubborn tuft of iron gray fringe that lies in its way. His face is tt MR. NAYDIAX'S FAMILY CIRCLE. 11 lu- Ihe a little inclined to be florid, which but for the length and leanness of his body, might lead to the conjecture that Mr. Xaydian can enjoy the bounties of nature as thoroughly as do any of his neighbours. Yet Mr] Naydian is anyLliing but an inteni])erate man either in the matter of eating or of (h'inking, and liis healthy com- plexion arises no doubt from tlie salubrity of the sur- roundings amid which he has spent the latter portion of his life. His face is long, in keeping with his bo.ly, and his whiskers are long in keeping with his face and its most prominent feature. His eyes are of tliat greyish-green hue, wliicli young ladies call beryl, wlien those wlio have such eyes are young and hand- some ; and though Mr. Naydian is neither young nor ha:id.some now, yet liis grey-green eyes can throw out twinkling ravs of lisjht that tell of the youthful feeling still lingering in tlie man who f)wns tliem. On the whole Mr. Naydian is not a man to be overlooked in a crowd, and far less in liis own (b'awing-room. " iV'V foiiK/i c()/isi/inchiif//.r," said Mr. Naydian, as lie continued to stroke his whiskers compla-jeutly, while he looked in the mirroi- ; "there's life in tlie old d(jg yet, notwithstanding the etlbrts of linie to make him feel more sedate," and there is no siying how far a kind of codicil or foot note to the above confession of faitli, to which he had seemingly atVixed his ''^z/^^'/^, wouhl have run, had nut the rustling of silk in the door-way lead- ing into the dia\vin:.''-rooni turned his attenticju in that direction. '' Ah ! it is you, Isabel," said he, looking away from the nurror, and appearing to be not a little ashamed at being caught, 12 MR. NAYDIAX'S FAMILY CIRCLE. \l ' . ! \ i i i 1 ! " Of course it is me ; and who do you think it could have been at this time of the day ? It is perhaps just as well that it is only me ; for even your own children wouM have thought it somewhat strange to see an old man like you admirimf liim.self in tlie lookin^-olass, Tlie vanity of some men is something which nobody can understand." " Xobody but you, my dear, who are said to have the credit of understanding all things, even if it only be in the negative," and Mr. Xaydian approached his wife as if nothing unusual had been found out against him. " I was just examining that bald spot to see if an} thing could be done with it, or with the tuft beneath it." " The bald spot miglit reduce your vanity, at least," she uttered, "though I am beginning to think that nothiuL!' will ever do that — " " Not even the sarcasms of one's own wife," and Mr. Nadian took a step or two nearer the lady, and chucked her under tliat dimpled chin of hers. " What ! looking cross on Cliristmas morning !" said he, doing something more thun chucking her under the chin, and producing a sound very much like that which he had a short time before produced with his linger on the Ijack of his hand. " Nonsense, my lass ; no cloud must darken this day, whatever you may thiidv of your old man and his vanities." After such a greeting, ^Mrs. Naydian had, of course, to lo(jk as if she never could be cross again ; and so, putting her hand on her husband's shoulder, she pro- ceeded to remark, with a smile which made all the dimples in her face look to advantage, that there was a MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIUCLE. 13 good deal to look after when one expected such a com- pany as they expected. "JJut they are all our own, my dear," said Mr. Naydian, repeating the anioi of his confession of faith with a warmth which made all tiic dimples blush again. " They are all our own children, you know." " You mean, I suppose, that they were our own chil- dren, John ?" " No, my dearest, I mean that they arc our own chil- dren, and will continue to be so until the end of the chapter." " Oh i the boys tliemselves arc every Lhhig tu me.'' " Well, what more do you want ?" " But their wives 1" " Well, aren't their wives good enough for them ?" " Oh, yes ; good enough. But then, yon know " " Well, what do 1 know ?" " They are inquisitive and critical ; at least some of them seem to me to be kind of diilerent to what one's own daughters would be. And what is worse, tliey make the boys more critical and inquisitive than wliat they used to be." Mr. Xaydian took his >vife's hand in his, and led her to the sofa near the window, in at which the bright Christmas sun was peering cheerfully, and wishing both of them, with ull its might, tlic meiriest of greetings. " You must not let your mind rest on these things, old lass," said he, with a light from his giey-green eyes that was as cheerful as the sun's. "We are all one family, with one common interest at stake — the interest of Messrs. John M. Naydian and Co. You ai>» my wife" u MIL NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIKCLE. I It! • \ ii I' It and — and — well, the amcit was repeated, " and they are our sons and daughters, and their offsprinj4 are our grand- children. What matters it, if tliere be a little jealousy amongst them n(jw and again ? With that jealousy we old people have nothing to do, even wlien it is direeted against ourselves, unless it be to counteract it on a day such as tins, when we all meet around a ct)m- mon table. You and 1 will look after the daughters and the grandchildren, for the boys are likely to look idler themselves, though for that matter I don't intend to neglect any of them, however sour either daughter or son may look. As the head of the family, I know what I am about; and whatever you do, my dear wife, you must try to strengthen my hands. For, if you do, we'll have a grand old Christmas lime — perhaps the best we have ever had. So cheer up, and I shall ring up the cook to see if the turkey and the plum pudding and all the d cdcras of the coming feast are likely to be ready. We have an hour or more yet before any of them arrive." However well Mrs. Naydian understood her husband's wheedling ways, and could see through them as she often said, yet womanlike she was only occasionally unwilling to be taken in with them. As in nearly all households so was it in theirs ; tliere were times when the good old lady would give her wheedling lord and master a bit of her mind both in regard to his morals and his business capacity. She had, or pretended to have, a righteous abhoience of the avalanche of debt, as she called it, that hung over their heads ; and indeed in her hand it was certainly an avalanche which she \ is never Mi;. NAVDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. 15 slow to start u-runniiig whenever her husband said something which annoyed her. Yet, should she hap- pen to long for a new dre.ss, or money for some personal expenye oi other, there was never any mention made of the accumulating destruction that truubled her mind at otlier times ; but, as with others of her sex, she would smile and smile and be a woman until she had obtained her lieart's desire. People said that on the whole they g /► MR. NAYDIAX'S FAMILY CnTCLE. 17 from her, We the , and dis- N'ay. her :l its ^hat ke is n to iter- r you to tell me wliat you think of the dress. Do you like it !* " " Of course I do," and he arose to give his admiration an active meaning. " Xol)()dy would ever dare, except by way of fun, to say that iii>}ii' plumes are ])orrowed ones, Isahol ; whatever you wear is further graced by beiag worn ; and to talk of the dress without talking of the woman would be rank heresy, which is only another name for disloyalty.'' " y!>\i can't get that word out uf your head." " Well, perhaps not ; perhaps I should have stopped at the word heresy, which hasn't very much of a mean- ing in these times of ours." " But you surely know we are not disloyal to you, John." Mr. Xayclian stooped over the centre-table to exam- ine a volume of Picturesque Canada, as if he had not heaiu t!.i<; (juestion, the very worst thiug he could have doni', if h;' had any desire to escape discussion. His wife turnc'.l and put her liand on his shoulder. " Do you really tliink so ill of any of the boys ? " "No, not of all of them," he replied without looking up. " But you suspect some of us." " Oh no, noi you, Isabel ; you will stand by the ship until the last, as needs nmst be ; it is sink or swim with us two old folks." " Well, then, wiio is it you suspect of disloyalty ? It isn't Trince or liertie, as you have already said." " No, they are not of so nuich account as to bother one's head about ; then besides they have been both good lads so far," 2 II 18 MR. NAYDIAX'S FAMILY CIRCLE. i ^'l •III i( I I I : f ' i i II il''i "And you surely don't worry ibout ^^L\tt, the bluster- in 2; fellow ?" " Well, 110 ; ]\(i has cost me a ijood \M of money lately in his sowin,L( of his wihl oat-; hut he'll sf.ttle down all riyht in time, even if his wife has turned him a little nj;ain.-t me within the last few months." " It is neitlun- Xeil nor Xorton, I'm sure ? " " Well, I'm not so sure ahout Xeil, since his wife has got the upper hand of him ; thou'Ji of Xorton I have now no fear. The fact is, L^al)el, Jack is tlie fellow none of us can depend upon ; :ind sonifHiracs it is very hard to know whether he is loyal to the concern oi' not. Far be it from me to think seriously ill of ^//?// of my boys; but you have drawn it out of me ; and if there's any disloyalty going an;ongst us, you may be sui'e you will find it in the business quarters v/here Jack fre- (juents. That marriage of his with a woman very much of liis own .'^tamp has not improved matters very much, and 1 would not be a bit astonished if something inju- rious to John M. Xavdian & Co. canio out of the alii- ance. y'.\s, I know he says he's lrR. xaydtan's family circle. 19 seni1)laace to ^Irs. Xaydian. She was truly the hand- some (1 uij^diter ol" a liaii'lsoino iiiutli'.?r. T.iU, ainl litlie as a youu^f deer with ihe sweets ()f early inorniuLj around her, she niatle hasLo to j^reet her father with the joy of a merry Christmas in her sn)ile. "And many of tliem may you see," .she eontinuecl to exclaim, as he jjrouilly held her for a moment at arms lenu^h to admire her in her wliitf attire. "And vou, too, mother," as slie turned to kiss her in turn. " They will not be very lon,i,^ now ; indeed I thought Oliver and Jack would have been here by this time, seeing they have not so far to come." " It is not always those who live nearest the church that are the least seldom late," said the father. " Ihit perhai)S you tliink more of Oliver and Jack than you do of the others." " I Would not be lik"ayd!an was not inclined to join in the merry passage at arms. She knew how these frolicsome sayings of her husband and daughter generally ended ; and though she loved her only daughter dearly, she was at times not a little jealous of the inlluence which Nottie exercised over Mr. Naydian. So she allowed the 20 MR. KATDIAN'S FAMILY CIKCI.E. ihii two of them to continue their fun, and ])asRe(] into the hall to make some domestic enquiries. And merriment enou'^h and lo spare there was be- tween father and dauijhter for a wliile, before the latter settled down seriously to approacli a certain matter whicli she liad very near lier lieart, and wliicli slie had determined to bring to lier fatlier's notice on Christmas morning. She had told her mother all about it ; and was in no way disheartened notwitlistnnding tlie rebuff she had I'eceived from tliat lady. Indeed it wag not an easy thing to dishearten Miss Xottie Naydian under any circumstances. She was tlie youngest of the family and had had pretty mucli all of lier own way ever since she had been a child, except on two Inter occasions, when the autliority of tlie father had to l)e exercised to pre- vent her from making a sort of run-away match with a young fellow of dou1)tful habits, who had made two at- tempts to take possassi(jn of her. Tlie scandal, however, if scandal it uiay be called, has no place here. In both cases the arrangements may be said to have been ni{)ped in the bud; and whatever miglit be thought of her first escapade when she stayed away for a week or two — she being then only a thoughtless chit of a child — no harm had come to the maiden from the second attempt, for she had never been allowed to leave her father's house. The father had readily enough forgiven his pet child ; and but for her mother's occasional cliidings when things did not go smoothly in the household the whole affair would have been all but forgotten, especially in view of the conduct of the girl herself, \vho was said to be quite content to remain with the old people as long as they chose to keep her, ili MU. xaydian's family cfucle. 21 After not a litile cross-tiring in a playful way, the father and daughter struck a chord in their conversa- tion which led il into a more serious eiiannel ; and ere lonu thev were sitting on the couch near the window, with their heads very near each other, as if they were afraid that ihuir words would be overheard. She was evidently pleading with him. "1 think we had better not discuss the matter to-day, my child," he was heard to say at last. " And why not to-day, pipd (" she iurtlier pleaded. " I don't think the boys would like lo have it spoken of. Jiut th k 'th liey neeun L know anytlnng aOouL iL jusL yel. "Vet they will have to know ; it 1 give my promise." "Why will they have to know ?" " Because of the expense, my girl.'' The young miss looked n(jt a little disappoinled, though she had evidently not made up her mind U) re- treat. She said something about meeting the expense in some otiier way, but her tones were so low he hardly undei stood her at tirst. Then he told her what an expense the nudving of the new avenue had been, and how her brothers had been grumbling about the enormous outlay. " liut you have paid for all that," she said. "Well, I hope so. But you know how the last instal- ment had to be paid. It was like buying a part of one's own property ; and that doesn't look well in the eyes of business men, you know." " And it couldn't be repeated V " I am afraid not." f 09 Mil. NAYPIAN'S FAMILY CIHCLE. I'lll'll 1. " Oil, papa, couldn't you i!o it oiiro moro, just once again, to jtlcase nie ; if it couM lie done once, it can be done aj^'ain." " I'lit it has been done twice aliemlv." "And can it not be done tlnj tlnrd time ; llie third time is «/?w^.s lucky, you know jiaj^a." Mr. Xaydian had to laui^^h. " Not always, " he said, ii;ittin«;' li -i' hlu>-hiii'4 clipek, "}(»u can ;^o v\wv too often to the w<']i," but ills voice betrayed p wavcrip'j; which she was not slow to take advatjtapje of. She put u\) lit'!' pretty hands t(< his face, and bcndinii; as close to Idiu ;ts a lov er would hav;.^ done to his niis- tre^'S before kissin;^ hci", whispered, " Say a.t least you will think about it." "Well, yu\) ndiix, I'll think about it — will that please you ? " " And you'll do it — I know you will," and she iiuuL^ her arms about his neck," you'll do it — I know you will — won't you dear papa— say you will." What co\dd he do bnt promise ]n.'V. for promise her he did. And hardly had lie do:n.' so dud escaped from her embrace, when arriving .-leiyh bell?^ sounded their merry peal up to tlie door of the mansion. A nioir'cnt afterwards, the great hall rang with the greotings over the first arrival. It was Oliver and his wife and five of their children. When Mr. Xaydian had been talking about Ids boys, to their mother, he had said nothing about Oliver, but this was perhaps on account of Aii:-s Xottie's interrup- tion. Some people said that Mr. Xaydian oeldom spoke i •; MK. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIUCLE. 23 about his son (Jliver, llioiiL;h tliuy w.mM often say in ih'j sniue bieatli tliiit nlivor Uis t[uite able to sptiak for liiinsulf. He was a littL- inaii, with a very ja-os- l)3rou3 look, and wore ^das^es. He hal charge of the most prosperijus branch of the business, in a neighiiour- in^' city. His pereeatau;- -s of proti'; were the highest out of the general concern next to his father's, and he lial been able bv frueal course-) in the management of his own expenses t(j have a safe persoijal account at tlie bank. And so it was tlial Olivt^r X-ivduin was looked upon as the most prosp irons of all his I'rothers. He v.'as besi les, a .Jirewil little mui nn.l knew almost as much about the business a-i his t ith.-r di 1, an 1 w is ii >t afraid at times to tell his lilaer so, Wiien that genth;- man's extravagances drew too heavily upon the general funds. Even with Oliver, however, jlr. Xay«iian could hf him. Siie was a tall slim woman, young, and fair, and good look- ing ; but she was not a woman born to rule, as her mother-in-law was. Neither of them had ever had a chance to rule for that matter; but Mrs. Oliver Xay- dian never seemed to take it so seriously to heart as Mrs. John Xaydiiai did. She was even convinced that her husband could manage tilings far better than she woul I ever be able to do. at least so her conduct led I 1 24 MR. NAYUIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. if; 11 ! I! 1 ' ' t 1 \ ,1 ! !l H iSi people to think ; and thus it was tJiat there was com- parative peace in their hoiisehuLl. Their family con- sisted of four sons and a daughter, King, Tom, Ham, Londy and Otta, as they were called for short in the family. The eldest took after the mother, rather delicate in looks, and of studious habits, and evidently intended for a profession. Tom and Ham were two handsome boys, with the lathei's j)ush and perseverance in their every movement, very much like him in every way, especially Tom. Londy was of slender b'^.ihl. with large dreamy eyes, and thougii his own feelings were in favour of a collegiate life, his father had all but decided to make a farmer of him. Miss Otta was grand- father Naydian's favourite cliild ; he h.id often nursed her while she was but a baby, and evcm now in her teens held her in esteem next to his own d.uiL'hter, if not more so, considering how hjyal she had ever been to him in return. As soon as the tirst greetings were over, and their fur wrappings had all been removed, they gradually found their way to the drawing-room, where it was im- possible to distinguish the voices in the general hum of conversation; nor xvas tliere much oppor- tunity for any one carrying on a continuous conver- sation ; for before they had been in tlie drawing-room live minutes, before Mr. Naydi-an had been able to put more than one cr two of his leading questions to Oliver's wife, and before Mrs. Naydian had come to any ki'^d of a maternal understanding with her favourite son, Oliver — who, though not her tirst-born, was the best of the lot, as she used to say — the second sleigh arrived, bring- MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CHICLE. 25 ing Jac': and his wife, and their eldest son and daughter ; and the renewed Christmas greetings put an end to all connected intercourse. "Hallo, Jack ! A merry Christmas to you !" cried Oliver, rushing forward to his brother, when he saw that his father was Ijusying himself with Mrs. Jack — " Many of them to vou, old fellow — and nianv of them to all of you. And this is Moniy — what a big fellow he is growing to be — a merry Christmas to you — we had better keep you out of Tom's way, or there will be squalls. Hallo, Tom ! liere's your cousin Monty, as big a giant grown as yourself. And how are you, (^)ueen? Still bigger than any of the other girls, your consins. You are holding your own well in the world, too, 1 am hearing" — and he shook hands with them all, and then began to shake hands with them all over again, until people would have thought that he, and not his father, was the lord of the mauor. Xo wonder that some folks said that Oliver Naydiau could speak for himself. " Ah ! this is Mrs. Xavdian," and his nranner changed just a little. " How do you do, madam ? A merry Christmas to you ; hope you left the other children all well at home." Mrs. Xavdian returned the Lireeting, and said that they were all well at home — those of her children she had Ijeen obliged to leave behind on account of their youth. But there was something in her manner which perhaps justihed Oliver's caution. She evidently cared more for her father-in-law than for her brother-in-law, and yet, even between the former and her therb did not seem to be very much waimth of attachmeut. Mre. 26 ,1 • h MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. 11 , ' • :|f ^1 hi ilr Jack Xaydian was evidently of a suspicious turn of mind, little inidined to believe in. anybody but hersell:'. It was no wonder, therefore, the old man was afraid of Jack and his loyalty to the firm, with nothing- to restrain him from kicking over the traces, but a wife who didn't seem to care very nuich how matters went. Then the other sleiijlis bc'^a^i to arrive, and the com- motion in the hall spread all over the hfjuse. First, there came Xeii and his wife — a little chit of a woman, with a languid, helpless kind of a smile, — and his son Hal — tall {;nd handsome, with an aristocratic air in his movements, — and two little folks, a boy and a gill, called respectively Y;ir and liath. Neil himself was a man in whose face there w^ere marks of a superior intelligence, — a man with a fearless, yet not unkindly eye — with something of the mother about him — a man born to rule, and one who knew from experience how to rule. Second, there came Norton, with a sickly looking woman by his sid',' — Lis wife, of course — in whom all physical strength seemed to be at an ebb, perhaps from the fatigue of travelling. It was only after she had been relieved fioni her wrappings an! h i.l r,jsted a little that she showed any force of character, and led old ^Ir. Naydian to take lier under his special protection. Nor- ton himself did not seem to be a nifa of any great deci- sion of character,thougli perhaps his spare and unhealthy look had something to do with the first impression formed of him. His sons, John and Fred, came with them — John rather a dissipated looking young man, who was evidently just recovering from a debauch, aiid MR. NAYDTAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. 27 Fred, a little chap witli long legs, who seemed to have once had an ambition to grow tall, but had stopped suddenly for want of material to build higher than his lower limbs. Then came I'rince, a trim little man, with a spicy look of conceit about him, and having in his train his wife and his daughter Charlotte. And then arrived Bertie, who, with Prince, had l)een called b}^ his father, if you reuK niljer, a vounu' man of no account, and who also brought with him his wife and a daughter — an airy young lady whose name was Victoria. And last of nil, tliough by lu) means least in his own estiuiatiou, there CLime flying up to the hall door, with a Jingling (^i many bells that was anytliing but musical, the blustering Matt, as his mother had called him, — as fussy a mor- tal, noisy and unkempt, as there was to be found in the whole country. " This is my daughter, Winnie," he shouted, as he en- tered the hall, brimnnii with him a <>reat rush of cold air. '' Yes, this is my daughter; ain't she grown fine since you saw hei' last, pap. This is your grandmother, Winnie; she hardly remembers you from last }ear. What do you think of her, Oliver I Eh Jack, you can't grow such gals down your way ; come, can you now ?" And so Matt Ijlustered from the one to the other, getting ofl' as many vulgarisms in live minutes as had been uttered in his father's house for a whole year. ' " Tliis is my wife," said he. " The old man knows all about her. She's a hi^'li-Hver and no mistake, aiu't you now, Sally. My gum, if it hadn't been for the old .>.\ fT itii ' X » 2^ MR. NAYDIANS FAMILY CIRCLE. man's sake I don't think I need have brought yon. She's been behaving dreadful, pap ; calling me all man- ner of names in public; and even you, whom she looks upon as lier natural protector, I really (hd think she was going to turn agin you. However, you can make it up between you now whichever way you like. It ain't none of my funeral. I'm all right whether Sally behaves herself or not. The public know her by this time," and so Matt blustered and blew until the whole family could hardly conceal their feeling of shame from him and his. They certainly wislied in tlicir lienrts, at least tlie most of them did, that he had I'ailed to put in his ap- pearance, he and his family. For, however comely his daughter Winnie looked in the ample folds of her richly embroidered dress, and in the glitter of her abundant jewellery, there was almost as much vulgarity in her mannerisms as there was in her father's. As for her mother, the only one who really countenanced her was old Mr. Naydian himself. There was however now no help for it ; and so the whole family, after having spent some time in making preparations for the coming feast, assembled in the drawing-room, which was capacious enough to hold twice their number without any inconvenience. « CHAPTER ir. THE DIJAWIXr; T^OOM. After a furtlier iiiterclifiiiLre of f^reetiiigs had taken place lii the drawing- room, it became somethii:f^ of a study to watch how the different elements of the assembly bei^an to group themselves. Air. Naydian himself made every effort to avoid any appearance of favouritism as he moved among his children and grand- children, and ycX it was not difficult to notice that his attentions to I'lince and liertie and to tlie wives of his other sous were of a more kindly character than to some of the others. His grand-daughter Otta kept near him as he passed from the one to the other, and W(juld sometimes even take lii^ hand as if she were still a child, as he now and again walked across the room. His wife perhaps succeeded 1 letter than he did in avoiding all appearance of pailiality, for even in the case of Jack's wife, she so far overcame one of her antipatliies, if antipatliy it could be called, as to enter into a kind of alliance with her for the time Ijeing. " Yes, njy dear," she was overheard saying to that somewhat suspicious female, " we are very glad to hear such excellent accounts of your welfare. Monty nnist be a great source of comfort to you. He seems to be 30 i>' MR, XATDIAX S FAMILY CIRCLE. m af quite an industrious lad and one of whom any motl\er would liave reason to be proud. And your daughter too/" for tlie mother-in-law saw ]\[rs. Jack's eves wan- dering in the direction of Queen, ratlier than towards her son. " What a comely woman sh.e is become ; very mucli improved in her looks of late, I tliink; she always had a commanding presence, notwithstanding lier oLl- fasliioned wavs as a child. I am sure we are all :traiglit." " That's so," returned Jack ; "by flf»ve, Oliver, y(ju are a brick, and I have always said so ; — at least, I have continued to think so for some time back any- way. There arc some confounded ninnies in this world who liilk of my starting business for myself some of tliese days. Ihit you and I know better than tliat, — eh, Oliver ? My goodness, 1 would as soon think of throwing in my L)t with my uncle over the line, not- withstanding the thriving business he boasts of," '■ Hr i .|. Wf ;!.: v' MR. XAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. Ill :'H! i i 'S. i% Ij! ill **And 1 don't think you're likely to do that in a Inirry," said Oliver slyly. <' Not if I know myself." " Nor as long as we continue to understand one an- other, Jack."' And the two brothers laughed and cliuckled, as if they had taken somebody in, in coming to such a de- cision. " But, I say, Jack,'' continued Oliver, " that uncle of ours is a knowing fellow, isn't lie. Xotliinii; but tlie whole earth is likely to satisfy him in his business am- bitions." " He's nothing but a" " Hallo, Jack, take care ; rememljcr he is a relation of ours." " Double dash the relationship," exclaimed Jack. " He's nothing but the — the" " Tiie brother of our fatlier, to put it mildly," said Oliver. " And 1 su]ipose that it is on the strength of the relationship that he wants to buy the old man out." " He'll never buy ikc out, anyway, the old screw." " Nor me either, for that matter." " By the way," and Jack lowered his voice almost to a whisper, " do you think the old man is sound on the g'oose ?" " He will be as long as — as — well as long as we stick togetlier. Besides he has a pride of his own in the con- cern, however reckless he is at times." " And what al)out the other boys ? I see Neil and Norton are having a confab over yonder, with that little beggar I'rince listening to what they are saying." r' 7* MR. NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. n3 " Oh they're all right, I think ; but we'll hear from tliein at dinner time perhaps. Neil,, you know, is a bit of a brae:, and Norton has become an inveterate grumb- ler. As for Prince, he hardly knows his own niiud for two minutes at a time, though I don't think the old man cares a snap of his lingers for him, and really he isn't worth talking about." " But Neil and Norton may put him into leading strings." " Not a bit of it. They know he's a prig, fit only lo know a good potato from a bad one, and hardly that. Why, they say the little beggar, as you call him, puts on airs at times down his way as if he owned the whole business, and that some of the people who deal with his branch, which is after all not much better than a coun- try store, actually believe him. Goodness knows, it would have been better for us if he had been left to shift for himself." " And what about Bertie ?" asked Jack. " Oh, he's another of them, though he is bv no means as pert as Prince. We'll likely hear him express his opinion at the dinner-table also, if he has an opportu- nity. I don't think he cares very much for his uncle, but there's no saying what he would do if he were to be asked his opinion about the dissolution or the absorption of the firm." Jack was evidently deeply interested in all that Oliver was saying about their brothers, and would no doubt have brought up Matt's name after Bertie's had he not been interrupted by the imperturbable Matt him- self, who liad been wandering around the room, putting ^^ ■ it ■11 m 1 34 MR. NAYDLVNS FAMILY CIRCLE. a market value on every picture and article of irrtu as he passed alonj,' tlie walls and near the what-nots and side-tal)les and chiifonieres. Tliou.^h he had really been taking Ids tiuie in niaking Ins oxandnation of evcvytliing', he none the less seemed to rush upon his two eldest brotheis, as if with the intention of runnini,' them into a corner and taking them completely in charge. " Goodness me, how you chaps seem to l)e having it all to yourselves over liere," he exclaimed as he came upon tliem. " Don't disturb yourself on my account, tliough," fur he saw that Jack was making way for him, " I ain't of much importance here, and if it hadn't been for my daughter Winnie I don't think I would have come at all. Ikit ain't she a comely lass, now, ain't she — worth showing off on a fair day. JJy gum, none of you chaps can show anything as sweet and fresh as that strapping young hu/zie. Why look at her over there making faces at ]\Ionty and Tom, as if she a was match for either of them, though she hasn't had half their chances either. You chaps are the big-bugs of the concern of course, and I think a good deal of botli of you too. I often speak of you out our way, though neither of you in my opinion lias got lialf the smartness of managing a business as I tliink ye ought to have. But that is neither here nor there as long as the old man is satisfied with all of u^. I guess I do my sliare of the work, and if you do your share too there ain't nothing to grumble about atween us. Come now, is there, eh Jack ?" Jack said he was perfectly satisfied, and again made MR XAVniAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. ■55 way to k't his bnjtluu' sit cLv.vn Ixiside Oliver atid him- self. *' Xo, no, T ain't a u'l'inn; to sit down ; por]ia])S Oliver iniL,dit think tlu're wasn't room for both of us, eh Oliver ? Ay, yon may lan^h, and T like yon well enoucjh too; bnt, by gum, Oliver, you're a smart chap, and you like plenty of room too when yon want to do all the business you can. You thouuht I was poaching on your preserves one Uuw, didn't you ; and you got the better of me after all, eh ? \V(dl that was rich, though it was pretty hard on the old man, with wliom I was until lately a little bit of a favourite. But never mind, Oliver, there's room enough for us all, ain't therci Jack ; for von ouuht to know, considering the slices vou get out of the old man's plum pudding. Oh no, I ain't agoing to take a seat ; 1 want to look at the pretty things, and count their cost as I move around. There ain't no spitting allowed round here, and so a man must do s jmething to keep up some kint seem to bother himself much about what others may say." " Yo2ir father's not like that, Monty ?" said Mr. Nay- diau. " No, indeed." " Nor even yours, Tom ?" " Hardly." " But this young lady evidently knowti how to wheedle her parent into anything ; and so I suppose she will her old grandfather. Come, what is it to be, Winnie ? A new bracelet, or a watch, or a doll, or a lap- dog, or a doll's carriage, or — " I want a new carriage for mi/sclfp exclaimed Winnie, " if you would only give papa money enough to complete that new avenue of his," and the young lady counted the riugs on her fingers, some of which had been bought with her grandfatlier's money directly or indirectly. "Not so bad for a Christmas present for a young lady who would grace fche finest carriage that ever was made," MU. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIUCLE. 41 and Mr. Xaydian turned somewhat abruptly to Monty to ask him in turn what he would like to have. " liut am I to get it f asked Winnie, looking for a more definite answer. "We shall see," said the grandfather. Tlie young lady rose to her feet. " Tiien I'm not to have it ?" slie s.iid, preparing to move towards the window. " Oh, I didn't say that, but—" '' But what ?" •' Well, we shall see by and bye."' "Ah, I thought so,— a put oir as usual, as my ])\\)ii says," and she turned on her heel Then throwing her head on one side to look at her grandfather r)ver lier shoulder, she said with a toss of her head, " Well, we shall also see, but not by and bye ; or else I don't know papa well enough," and siie seemed to change her miml and passed away from the window in a direction towards her father who was still talking with her uncle Oliver. " So, So," said Mr. Naydian, "the minx even tlu'eateiis the head of the liouse with the head of the bianch. Xot bad for a beginning, thouijh how it will end is ano'Jier matter. You two chaps liave been saucy enough at times, but you cannot surpass your cousin Winnie in that line, however much you may try. A carriage lor herself — just think of it, after all 1 have done for them out there — she must believe that L am made of money — eh, you're laughing are you — I su[)pose now you will be wanting two carriages for each of you or something as extravagant. Come, Monty, out with it; 1 see you have some request to make." *'- 1 i t Tl »4 i 42 MIJ. NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. Monty said he had carriages enough for the asking whenever he wanted them. He was more interested in boating. " And well does your old grandfather know it. How he has had to suffer in paying your boating debts and those of your sister Queen. The last bill was no trifle to pay, but still I hope it will be the last of its kiud." Monty muttered his tiianks, and said something about people that hadn't such a liberal grandfather as he hail ; which indistinctly uttered morsel of flattery encour- aged the grandfather to pursue the conversation a step further. " I am glad to know you are grateful, anyway, Monty; and I hope you will continue so. I take a pride in your career, and in yours too, Tom ; so I hope you will con- tinue to be good boys and industrious. But have you no Christmas desires, eh, Monty, perhaps a new boat, or a bicycle, or a toboggan suit — " Monty interrupted his grandfather by laughing at his suggestions, almost as saucily as Winnie had done. "Then what is it to be ? It is very hard to please you young folks nowadays." "I want," said Monty, "something which" — and he paused as he blushingly looked not at his grandfather, but at his cousin Tom. "Ah, you're afraitl in case Tom may want one also; but come let us hear what it is ; Tom won't be jealous if he can't get one also ; will you Tom ?" Tom said he wouldn't, but his looks did not seem t<) corroborate the assertion. •* Well, Monty, what is it ?" I^rU. NAYDIAX'S FAMILY CIRCLE. 43 " I want a — a villa," and he blushed, for he evidently thought he would be misunderstood. "A villa, you scapegrace, why a carriage is nothing to that, unless one h:is to make the highway in which it has to run. But what puts a villa in your head ? Are you going to be — Init, dear me, that can't possibly be. What do yi)u want with a villa ?" " I want a j)lace where I can receive my grandfather and his friends, ami my own friends, at the carnival and during other lioliday seasons, when they come to visit me. The money, I am sure, would be well spent.'' " I have no doubt about it," sdd Mr. Naydian. "No one like a Naydian tor spending well. But what will it cost ?" Monty, after a faltering pause, told him his estimate of the cost. " And do you want me to pay the whole of it?" "Just as you like," said ]\Ionty, somewliatsheei»islily, " but if you do, it would be a great favour to me ami my friends, and a credit tu the tirm." " Bother the credit of the firm:" said the grandfather. "That it still has a credit is sometimes a puz/ler to me. But come, Tom, you haven't said a word yet — what do yoit want for a Christmas present ?" " I want nothing, gramlfather," answered Tom with not a little dignity. "Oh, (jh, there's modesty in the family Jifter all. You say you want for nothing, and so might all of us say considering our prosperity in these later times, liut d(> you not long for some tritle or other ?" " I said 1 wanted nothing, grandfather." H; ) f.l 44 VT» MR, NAYDIANS FAMILY CIRCLE. I " Not even a carriage ?" " No." •'Nor a villa?'' "No, when I want a villa I hope I shall be able to build one with mv own money," and wdien Tom had said it. Ids cousin Montv looked at him as if he would liave preferred to have tlie punching of his head even to a villa. " Besides, grandfather, you have so many of my "J lis to provide for, and have been so good to my sis- ter Otta, as Monty has said, that I will not press you to: iny'' i ig this year at least." This was something the grandfather had not looked for ; yet there was such a sarcastic truth in what the young man said, which was not sarcastic only from the manner in which it was said, that he did not know very well how to reply to it. He had often asked himself where all this extravagance was going to end, not the extravagance of merely living sumptuously as other merchants lived, but the extravagance of promoting im- providence among his children and his grandchildren, " Like father, like son — though there's no such like- ness, I'm afraid, between Oliver and me," thought the old merchant. Then he turned to Tom, " Well, well, I must not laugh at your independence altogether ; I would there were more of it in our family, and yet per- haps I am myself to blame that there is not more of it ; and so, without giving Monty any satisfactory answer, he passed on among his other grandchildren, to promote if possible his own popularity with them. " What a cad you are I" exclaimed Monty as Mr. '\l MR. NAYDIAN'S family CIRCLE. 45 Naydian left them, and perhaps it was the suppressed voice in which the exclamation was uttered that made the speaker so red in the face. " Better to be a cad than a castor," returned Tom as cool and collected as could be. " What do you mean ?" "I mean what I say ; it is better to be lionestly humble than to grasp at more than one needs or has a right to." "And do you mean to say that you are honestly humble?" " Perhaps not; but a cad can be honestly humble, and you know you called me a cad." " And I'm likely to call you worse than that, for it seems to me you are a hypocrite as well," and Monty was evidently intent on working himself into a passion which would soon be audible to every one. * •* You better remember where you are, as perhaps you do, for your safety's sake. You tliink because you want a villa you can pass for a lord ; but don't attempt to lord it over me, even if I be an inch shorter in stature." " And what does it matter to you if I do want a villa ?" " Oh nothing in the world ; but what does it matter to you if I don't want a villa until I can pay for it out of my own earnings ?" "It matters this; you want to play the prig, and make the old man believe he is too liberal," and Monty continued to raise his voice. "And so he is too liberal, and what is more he is 1 <^, m 1 \u >n m Hit nm '1 1 I ii '1: IE l!'' '■ 1 ■ 't'l ,: 46 MR. XAYDIAN's family CIRCLE. liberal with other people's money, which is a very bad kind of libert-lity as you needs must confess.'' "I'll confess nothing of the kind ; he doesn't need a monkey like you to v-ell him how to spend liis money, nor do I want your advice either." " But I have given you no advice.'* " Xo, not unless impudence be advice " and Monty's voice began to be heard by the others near him in the room." Tom perceived this, and wishing to avoid a row, rose to seek refuge from his irate cousin. " I think we had better postpone a discu.'sion which is creditable to neither of us,' he said as he turned to go. " If the discission be discreditable, you know wlio's to blame," shouted Monty. " A beggar like you de- serves no consideration at anybody's hands; and I think tlie best Christmas present for you is a psalm ])ook and a pair of quills for your nose," but before lie had finished the sentence Tom had left him. Nor was the discussion in other parts of the room anything less animated ; and perhaps it was on this ac- count that the attention of the assembly had not been turned to Monty and Tom sooner. Oliver had l)usied himself with Matt and Prince, Jack had found no reti- cence on the part of Xeil and Norton, Mrs. Naydian had thrown all her energies into winning the sympathies of Jack's wife and in re-assuring the wives of Prince and P)ertie, while Mr. Xaydian had sought to make over- tures to John and Hal as they stood in a group near the piano with their cousins, Charlotte and Fred. Charlotte sat on ihe piano stool, and looked as if she MR. XAYDIAX S FAMILY CIRCLE. 47 had a longino- to play something or other for the com- pany ; l)ut as the hour was a little too early she re- ceive'l no encouragement from the others, unless it were from Fred, wlio had whispered in her ear that he would be sure to join with her in a song or a duet in the even- ing or after dinner. " I only wished to drown the voice of trade," Char- lotte said, " for there seems to be nothing else in the neighbourhood ; and Fred assured her that nothing in the world would delisjht him more than to hear her in her endeavours to throw some kind of sweetness in the discussion which John and Hal were carrying on. These two young men, it may be said, were leaning against the piano, and looking in each other's faces very nmch after the manner of Aionty and Tom before the crisis came. " You are fond of music, I know," continued Char- lotte, " and it is pleasant to think that there are some in the family who long for other pleasure than the dis- cord of mere money-getting." Fred said he hated trade and its restles^^ness of spirit. " But for all that," said he, " I have sometimes to assume tlie appearance of being busy for father's sake.'' "And so have I, during the summer season," returned his cousin, " when we have so many visitors." Fred said that was business of another kind, and not so uncongenial as mere buying and selling. " Yet I sometimes wish they would stay at home : many of them are so vulgar and presuming." " We have lois of visitors too," said Fred, " but they don't generally stay more than a day or t vo at a time, ''I 1.. » I i i'3 ; t* ( '« 48 MR. XAYDTAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. •"-I .! tl' 1^; li !'■ 'r i! ::!:i^:.' h;i i!' and hence we don't bother over them. When we find any of theni vuluar or presuniini^ we make it too hot for them, and so they leave. At wliat time do your visitors generally leave you ?" Charlotte said they were (generally all ,i;one in Sep- tember. " Then your season of quiet begins (juite early in the year." "Oh no, the autunm is papa's busiest season." "And the winter months ?" " Oh, they are our noisiest season.'' " How is that ?" But before Charlotte answered iiiin she looked around to see where her father and mother were, and otherwise convinced herself that no one was likely to hear what she was going lo say. Then bending her head towards her cousin slie whispered something in his ear. Fred merely elevated his eyebrows by way of an an- swer to her whisperings. " Yes, my dear Fred, it is sometimes awful," she said, in a louder tone. "The din in the iiouse at times drives all music out of my head. xVnd they call each other all sorts of bad names, names I wouldn't for the world re- peat to any one." Fred could only supplement his former way of carry- ing on the conversation by shrugging his shoulders. "Don't your father and mother do it ? ' Fred evidently did not like to be put in the witness- box so abruptly, yet he answered that his parents were nearly ahvays respectful towards each other in their daily walk and conversation. MR. NAYDUN S FAMILY CIRCLE. 49 " You know," said he, " my inotlier is a very delicate woman." '' And therefore cinuot scohl," h\ui;hed Charlotte. "Well I only wish my mamma were a little more deli- cate than she is if that would put an end to her scold- ing. Papa, you know, cannot stand very much, and when she starts him in one of his tantrums he just swears so awftU, that I almost hate both of them. She is ever teasing him about the extravagance of the Nay- dian familv, and his own extravagance too, and will sometimes tell him that he is little better than a thief, when he gets an unexpected haul, as she calls it, out of grandfather. She even, at times, speaks of him to his face as being a hypocrite, when he passes himself off as a rich man before people, and boasts of his influence with the firm ; and when all other accusations are ex- hausted, she will discuss with him religious matters in a way to set him almost- wild. Sometimes I really do not know what to do, they go so fa ] in their (piarrels, I have seen him shake his hand in her face as if he were going to strike her ; and once he spit in her face and told her she was nothing but but really I cannot repeat the dreadful language ^e sometimes uses, nor should I be telling you all this; for mind you it is in strict confidence I am speaking to you," and she re- duced her voice again to a whisper. " And now tell me, Fred, what do you think will be the end of all this ?" Fred looked into the pale face of his pretty cousin, and saw that she was telling him no hysterical tale of her own making up. The girl was evidently speaking the truth, and in his heart he felt for her. And yet .4 :;^-' 4 k m i* I -^n 50 MR. NAYDIAN's family CIRCLE. 'I'" what advico had lie to give — he, a young man, with little or no intluenee with anybody connected with the family outside of his father ? If he were to S'^ " that he would talk to his father al)out it, who might j-proiich grandfather Naydian on the subject, it would only be to mock the [)oor girl in her distress ; f(jr well he knew that his father had very little influence at head(iuarters, and that what influence he had was but the negative influence of a confirmed grumbler. Besides, he had often been told what a dangerous thing it was to inter- fere in the family affairs of a household not his own. " My dear Charlotte, ycju must not distress yourself too much about the matter," he at last said. " I have seen not a little of what you have l)3en tell me in other households than yours. Why, tliere's Uncle Matt and his wife — what a shine they have had lately ; and yet, to look at Winnie, you would not think that she takes it so sore to heart as you do. Their last rumpus was really a scandal, and what is more, everybody knows all about it ; whereas your father and mother can have as many tiffs as they choose, and nobody seems to know anything about them. You heard how Uncle j\Iatt introduced his wife when they came into the hall to- gether?" " Ah, yes," interrupted Charlotte, " but Uncle Matt has not had the oppoitunitieb of learning how to act that my papa has had." '* I don't know, I'm sure ; you know their branches are both somewhat isolated." " That is true; but isolation is not without its oppor- tunities, Why, there is Uncle Bertie-^" MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. 51 "Well, what Jiboiit Uncle l>ertie ?'* "//f doesn't quarrel with his wife." " That is only because you don't hear of them very often." " But do they ([uarrel ?" "Well, T .lioul.l ratlier tliink thev do." " But not so violently as Uncle Matt and his wife ?" " Xo, no ; hardly as vi(^lent as that ; but they do (juarrel, all the same, and [ often tliink it is a pity that there is so much of such nastiness of conduct in families, — in those to which we are related, at least. If our uncles would only itn.Late grandfather in this respect it would be better for them ; why, to look at grandfather and grandmother, you wouldn't think they were ever cross with each other." " But you haven't answered my question yet, Fred," .said Charlotte. " Where is all this backbiting going to end?" " Xot in the divorce court, anyway." " Well, no ; that can hardly be, in a country where there is no divorce court. But it must end bad for all that." " It is ending bad, for ^it is playing tlie very deuce with the affairs of the firm, and nobody knows that Ijetter than Grandfather Naydian himself, though he makes believe that everything will come out all right in the end." " Some of the wives may run away," Charlotte sug- gested. Fred thought that was not likely, though he laugh- ingly remarked that perhaps it wouldn't matter very "• t i VI 1 In 52 MR. NAYDIAN'S family CIRCLE. ■ili;! li' i'i much if one or two of thenj did stay out of sight for a while. " But some of the husbands might want to run after them, or run away themselves." " Ah ! that would be different ; thougli they might find a difficulty to know where to run to. Biit I am afraid our cousins near us are having a lively time of it, judging from their looks and their words ; the quar- relling in the family is not confined to husband and wife merely. These two chaps are as jealous of each other, I believe, as Monty and Tom, and in their loud talk have even attracted the at':ention of Kuth and Yar. See how tlie two youngsters liave turned from the album they have been examining, to listen to wliat they are saying." Charlotte rose from her seat to look over the piano at the two little ones, who, when they saw her, pointed with their heads to tlieir brother Hal, as he seemed to be expostulating with their cousin John. They were evidently very much amused at the black looks on John's face ; and really it was his loud uncertain voice that had at first interrupted their innocent enjoyment among the pictures. All was not a scene of jealousy and ill-feeling in Grandfather Naydian's household that day, as the pleasant faces of these two young folks indicated • and perhaps such little folks as these had a part to play in soothing the restlessness of spirit manifested in more nnarters than one. In the meantime, however, the sound of the dinner gong put an end for the time being to all controversy, pleasant or unpleasant, in the drawing-room ; for, as soon as it was heard, all eyes MR, NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIKCLE. 53 turned towards Mr. Naydian the elder, who had arisen to give his commands as to the order of retiring to the dining-room. " Oliver, will you take your mother in to dinner, please ?" he said with a stately wave of liis hand ; " Jack, your sister Nottie ; Norton, Mrs. Neil Naydian, if you please ; Neil, Mrs. Norton Naydian ; Bertie, your brother Prince's good lady ; Prince, Mrs. liertie Nay- dian ; Monty, your cousin Otta ; Fred, your cousin Charlotte; Yar, RuLh, if you please; my dear Matt, j\Irs. Oliver ; Tom, your cousin Queen ; Hal, Miss "Winnie, and don't let her mystify you, the minx that she is ; King, your cousin Victoria ; John, your aunt, Mrs. Matt ; and now, my dear Mrs. Jack, will you please accompany me, while Ham, and Londy, will follow as our trusty knights." Thus did Mr. Naydian arrange the members of his family, and it is for the reader to discern whether his arrangements have been judicious or not. In each other's company, these groupings of two and two, must sit for more than an hour listening to what may please or displease them ; and it will be a thousand pities if Mr. Naydian lias not suceeded in bringing the sour and the sweet of his family connections into such relation- ship as to secure that good-will towards themselves, which is said to prevail in all well ordained family circles at Christmastide. 1 ' ^i-| m 4, 'A^% 54 MR. NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. CHAPTER Iir. THE DINING-ROOM. i i'i IF Mr. Naydiau had betrayed a somewhat pardonable pride in the luxurious decorations of his magnificent drawing-room, he had probaljly as nnich rtiason to be proud of the spacious dining-room in which the mem- bers of liis family sought to arrange tliumselves around the ricldy adorned table tliat ran the whole lengtli of the apartment. The room was perhaps the most cheer- ful in the mansion, Lirge though it wari. It was liglited from three windows, two on the one side, ami a large bow window at the end which looked out upon the well wooded grounds that lay to the west. Opposite the two windows there was a massive mantel-piece of the gothic order of carving, which in its breadth extended along the centre of the blank wall of the room and rose to within a foot or two of the ceiling; while from under- neath its emblematic and somewhat beetling designs an anthracite fire gave forth a glow of comfort that was but a counterpart of the sunshine, which was endeavouring, througli the curtains of crimson and gold, to reduce its wintry glare to the jnellow tints of autumn. Two spa- cious side-boards stood on eitlier side of the mantel- piece, and repeated the tale of luxury which every nook aud corner of the Nuydian mansion knew so well — re- MR. NAYDIANS FAMILY CIRCLE. 55 peated it from their burdens of burnished silver -ware that dazzled as if with a light all its own. Here and there, there huno; on the walls several f]jenis of ancient art, with one or two pictures of later workmanship set in frames of modern mould and gilding. Xo pains had been spared on the table, which in itself was a work of art. It was divided into seven sections, each with a centre piece of flowers, from whicli ran or radiated blossom lines of the most delicate hue and odour ; while in the centre stood a massive epergne endjossed with the armorial bearings of the family, which, with the several flower centi'os, repeated itself iu the crystal- ware that encircled the table with a variegated brilliancv. Truly j\Ir. Naydian entertained as became a merchant prince, even if he had humbly refused to take rank as a merchant prince ; for royalty itself would hardly have been able to outrival the gloria mduH with which his table shone. Indeed Dido's feast in honour of yEneas would have but poorly compared with Mr. Xaydian's preparations for his ChrLstmas festival. Oi\hQ.far}iiidi^\\difarmu.la6\\\\i) had busied them- selves with the liuests since their arrival it has not been necessary to speak. There were, however, enough of such and to spare. As might be expected, the dignity of the former was strictly in keeping with the occasion; for was not the veritable Jeames himself present with all the splendour oi his ancestry, aglow with all the finery of tiunkeydom ^ His wig weighted with pomade and powder gave him an air of consecpience and ^jaternal sobriety, as he was seen several times repeated in the gentlemen who were in attendance in the dining-room ■It ■I il 'm 4 ^ MR. NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CiriCLE. and elsewhere. Of confusion there was none, for the several Sir Giles Overeaches, in their crimson vests, nankeen shorts, and blue coats corded with golden braid, glided hither and thither, showing by their dexterity in finding the proper place for each guest, how far they had memorized to good purpose the part they had to play. A mistake on the part of any of them would have been all but worse than a crime. Besides there were daintily printed cards on the table showhig where each one was to sit ; and indeed so carefully had all the ar- rangements been made that when Mr. Xaydian took his place at the head of the table, with Mrs. Jack on his right and Miss Nettie on his left, there was nothing for him to do but to nnitter some words of thanks to I*rovi- dence in view of the fact that things had been so well ordered in the economy of things for him and his. Alter grace, and while Sir Giles was busying himself with the soup, Mr Naydian could not help casting a satisfied glance at his surroundings, as if the thouglits that had passed tln-ough his mind, when lie was alone in the drawing-room in the morning, were again flitting before his mental vision. There was contentment in his smile, as he gazed on eitlier side of him upon the two lines of human Ijeings whose destinies were so inti- mately connected with his own; and when he ventured upon tliat favourite, symp;ithetic snwu^k of his, as he brought his hands together on the table, those near him knew that he was going to say something pleasant by way of encouraging conversation. " Ah !" said he, seemingly to Mrs. Jack, though evi- dently in behalf of all at his end of the table, " how MR. NAYDIAN*S FAMILY CIRCLE. 6-^ pleasant it is for a family such as ours to meet once in a while round a common table. Our interests are com- mon, whatever some ill-natured people may say, and so ought our sympathies. You can hardly understand, my dear, how it warms an old man's heart to be able to ex- change greetings in person with one's sons and daugh- ters and grandchildren on what is to most of people the pleasantest day of all the days of the year. Here, with hearts beating in union and happiness, as we sit around our lestive board, we can, if we have a mind to, forget all the carkings of Ijusiness cares, and live a life of peace and comfort for twenty-four hours at least. Per- haps not all of us can guarantee this much, and yet, when I look around me, I can hardly conceive how this our family can be otherwise than contented and happy. To those wlio think and speak ill of us at times, we could hardly advance a better proof that what they say is nonsense than the evidence of a day such as this. It is C'lristmns to all; but it is Christmas to us in a special sense, for where tliere is good-will the day brings a blessing in every one of its experiences ; and who shall say that there is not good-will among all of us ? Ay, verily, a happy and contented family is mine." A?'.d whatever of self-deception there miglit possibly be in Mr. Naydian's cliaracter, as there is in every- body's character, there was nothing in tiie demeanuur of his children as they regaled themselves with the dainties which had been prepared for them, that gave the lie to his words. Even Mrs. Jack, whom he made his medium, and who had sometimes spoken ot her father-in-law's self-deceptioua by a far uglier name than Sf f f. :r I !'.l i !1 f If . MR. NAYDIANS FAMILY CIRCLE, that, was all complacency, and smilingly acquiesced in everything he had said. " The Naydian family is certainly one of which we are all proud," was what she answered when Mr. Nay- dian had made a pause. " Its spirit of contentment is a fitting guarantee of its future greatness." " Well spoken, my dear," applaude d Mr. Naydian. " The sentiment is an excellent one, and Nottie and I shall drink to it, and tlie rest of those who have heard it, if they please," and the merchant raised his glass simultaneously witli those at his end of the table. " I have always counselled my children to cultivate a spirit of contentment, which next to faith in each other, is to be the guarantee, as you say, of our further progress as a family ; and I don't think I shall have reason to com- plain in the long-run." " Nor in the meantime either, papa," exclaimed Not- tie who saw that Mrs. Jack noticed the faux pas. " iS^o, nor in the meantime either can I have any cause to complain, as I have said already, though per- haps my heedless critic of a daughter liere did not no- tice it. We have but to stand by each other." — " As we do," interrupted Mrs. Jack with a smile. " Yes, my dear, as we do, — very well put — as we do ; for we are certainly all loyal to one another, and none more so to me than you are, my dear.'' As has been said, Mr. Jack Navdian's wife was of a somewhat suspicious turn of mind, and it was no doubt natural enough in her totry to cloak such a tendency with something which looked the very opposite. No- thing/pleased her better than to have at times an op- MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. portiinity of combating her father-in-law's self-decep- tions ; and this she could do with a vivacity of manner wliich not unfrequently led the old gentleman all but to believe in her. He had said in the morning that she and Jack would no doubt proclaim their loyalty in fer- vent terms before the (hiy was over, and the truth of his words was to be sliown as far as she was concerned, now that he had given her the chance to speak about herself. In all that she siid, however, there was not one dis- agreeable word, not a word, strange as it might seem, whicli anyone could say had a double moaning. The Naydian fandly was as much her family as it was her Inisband Jack's. Slie had always had faith in its fu- ture, and she liad always tried to strengthen the con- nection between latlier and son. She praised Mr. Nay- dian to liis face, and spoke warmly of the liberal man- ner in which he had dealt with Jack and Jack's belong- ings, not forgetting to throw in a word now and again uf the good will which she and Jack had for all the other members of the famiiy. Nothing could be pleasanter than lier smile, nothing sweeter than her words, and Mr. Naydian certainly did not look as if lie disl)elieved a single word of what she said. Every word of it he liad lieard before ; and every word of it he had often t:dve:i time to consider in its fullest import Ijut he was listening to it all again, as if he had never heard it before ; for there was a passion in his daughter-in-law's manner of saying things — a sweet imp'^tuosity which the (jM merch.int could not resist, and which, as some people said, could even draw i'lii i;^'' ! !'. !i ' .11 1 '1 V, ' '' m MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. the wool over Jack's eyes at times. In a word, the fit of pleasing was on Jack's wife, and if her protestations were probably not altogether honest, her manner of making them was at least so impressive that Mr. Nay- dian looked deeply interested in all that she was saying, only interrupting her meilitluence of speech now and again with expressions of sympathy and applause. Even Nottie was interested and pleased, as were also the others in the vicinity ; and when at last the viva- cious matron spoke of the antecedents of their family- for the Naydian family was her family and Jack's, and their children's family, too — when she talked of the nobility of its old world connections, of their dignity and inlluence, of their pride of ancestry and their achievements in commercial and social life — when she spoke of Grandfather Naydian — her own children's great-grandfather — as a kind and benevolent old gentle- man, towards whom, as head of the family, she felt all a woman's faith and loyalty, one would have thought she was making a speech. And so she was making a speech — a sweet speech, which any one would have listened to just as intently as did Mr. Naydian, and which probably they would have applauded just as joy- ously as did Mr. Naydian. For it is really such a woman as Mrs. Jack Naydian who, when she likes, can drive away the carkings of business cares iiom a man's thoughts, even if it be for only twenty-four hours at a time. Nor was the tit of trying to please only to be seen at one end of the table. The epidemic had broken out all over the bousehold ; for neither at the beginning of the \: MR. NAYDIAN'S family CIRCLE. 61 feast, nor while it continued, were there to be heard any of those self-sided discussions which had made the drawing-room such an unpleasant place for Miss Char- lotte, and which had made her propose to Fred to drown the voice of trade with some piano offering or other. As the courses came and went, there was nothing but smiles and subdued sounds of merriment to greet them — no- thing but that politeness of intercourse which ignores self-seekini]' at the dinner-table of a "entleman. Even Matt had dofted his country airs to play the part of a gentleman in tlie company of his brothers and sisters and nephews and neices, and was even able to take his wine and handle the table- ware without asking either himself or his neii^hbour how much it had cost. John and Mrs. Matt, sitting together near the centre of the table, were to be heard conducting a conversation in which no word of impropriety passed either of tlieir lips, nor, dissipated though the former looked, did he tiiink of drinking more than the others. Everywhere the best of good- breeding kept company with the best of good feeling. Jack who was as far from Prince as it was possible fur him to get — for Jack sat next to Nottie while Prince sat next to his mother on the opposite side of the table from Jack — even Jack was seen to nod to Prince away in the distance and drink wine with him, while dohn and Hal with only Mrs. Matt between them would bend their heads forward to exchanij'e greetings or to decide some question or other which Mrs. Matt would put to both as the three of them conversed together at intervals. Monty and Tom had evidently forgotten much of their quarrel in the drawing-room, if not all of it j ■I: 62 MR. NAYDIAN'S family CTllCLE. mi' mv^^y Ml'" .■:, R' ^y^ ! 1 , ir. lliii for they more than once were observed exchan;:,'ing courtesies across the table, lioldinij tlieir glasses towards each other and then simultaneously to their lips as good fellowship demanded. And if such was the case where there had been evi- dences of friction, what was to be expected from Oliver who sat in the seat of honour next his mother, with every opportunity of keeping that lady and all at her end of the table in the best of good humour. Why, in his fun and frolic, he sometimes all but forgot the pro- prieties, and was forever taking off his glasses to wipe them, on account of the tears which would come into his eyes, from laughing at his own drolleries. Some one near him, either Prince or Bertie, said if he kept them laughing so, he would have to sing them a song when the dessert came on ; and Oliver retorted that he had often sung songs when neither dinner nor any other meal was in sight. " Oh, Oliver," exclaimed his mother, " that's some time ago." " And not so long either, mother,'' answered Oliver. " And as you know I used to compose them, too, though much to the chagrin of my otherwise sweet-tempered better half. She was dreadfully put out that her hus- band should think of being a poet."' "We must have one of these songs of yours to-night," said Prince. " I'm afraid you will have to sing it yourself, then,'' and Oliver laughed to think that his singing had ever been taken for anything but a joke. " The fact is when a. man cannot whistle to keep his courage up, he had •! lil!"' MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. 63 ir. better take to writing songs and to singing to tliem too. It refreshes one's own soul and dreadfully annoys the enemy. Besides when I took to minstrelsy i was in straits, — a position in which the poet generally finds himself sooner or later." " Oh, no," he continued, "don't look nt me in that way ; I never was altogether crazy. The straits I was in involved the loss of clothing, not the receiving of a new suit," and Oliver proceeded to give his account of the time he had to sing to keep his courage up ; and followed this up with ever so many other experiences of his that the sounds of the merriment at his end of the table would sometimes even reach Mr. Xaydian's ears, as he conversed with ]\Irs. Jack and the others near him. And once Oliver and his mother, withdrawing from the general conversation, became so confidential in their ijood nature towards each other, that Prince, laughing' at his joke beforehand, declared — though *it was very im- proper for him to do so before Sir Giles, who was at the moment changing his plate — yes, actually declared that he would tell his father how Oliver and his mother were carrying on. A:id the joke that Oliver was courting his mother was kept up for some time, amid many other pleasantries of the same kind, until it actually I'eached Mr. Xaydian, who laughed as heartily as any of them at it. " Just listen to that," said the old merchant, as an- other burst of laughter came from his wife's end of the table. " There is fun enough down yonder, though there is pleasantry enough here too — pleasantry of perhaps ¥' 64 MR. naydtan's family circle. a more Rubflued tone, eh, my dear," and Mr. Naydian looked benignantly on his dauj^diter-in-law, and then a<^ain looked with pride along both sides ot' tlie table until his eyes rested upon liis wife. " I supi)ose, Nottie, you would like to j^'o down and hear what they are lauyhinj^ about. Perhaps you think ihey are liaving the best of it ?" But Xottie declared that she didn't think so, and had no intention of deserting the company she was in ; while Jack and Matt who sat opposite and only two places from their fatlier, wiidvcd at each other with the eye winch their father could not see, though why they had so mis- behaved tliey could hardly have said, unless it were from tlie joy which revelled all around them. And thus it was perhaps that to avoid even the appearance of making a mistake, they saluted each other in the more appropriate manner of taking wine together. Then speaking in a low tone to each other, and subse- (juently in a lower tone with Mrs. Jack and Mrs. Bertie who were on either side of Matt, and with Miss Xottie and Miss Otta who were on either side of Jack, Matt, in a voice which all at his end of the table could hear, ventured to ask his father to tell them of si.me ui his earlier experiences in the country, ' ' j prospei-^ty had been vouchsafed to him in his aft'a "Why," said Mr. Xaydian in reply. "8' ine of my sons have more of an early experience in the country than I have. For example, there is Jack who came out here long before 1 ever thought of coming. He and Neil, you know, are nearly of an age, and were sent out by my father — a wondrous old man is my father, as you ! li MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. ■ ) IS all very well know — yes, tlu-y were sent out to establish }>ranche.s of the parent firm many many years before it had l)een decideii that 1 should Join tiieni. Oliver, as you also know, had been sent out a year or two after Jack and Neil liad succeeded in gainin;,' a footliold in the country ; and it was oidy when he and his uncle on the other side of the line fell out over certain tea trans- actions in which his grandfather was also involved, and when the parent liouse had decidey -lack and Oliver and Xcil and Norton to cfjnsolidatH under me and how the [lessimistic crowd again vv'u'A out against the tendeticy and pro]~>hesied nothing hut ruin to all who should have anything to do with us. Even the fact that the linii at home was in favour of my taking charge again did nut check their opposition. Yet the consolidation took place and riince and licrtie were also brought in and Matt was jn'ovided with a new branch, the first of mtermined not to UKive until he had per- mission from Ids father, though Ik; blushed a good deal, and even took oir his glasses to wijte them, perhaps witii the intention of 'dviuL! Mr. Navdian time to consider whether he should invite him or not to favour the com- pany. Mr. N"aydian, of course, had not expected that his guests would remain in the dining: room after his speech ; indeed his announcement about the presents in the pirhnir seemed all but a bril)e offercil to induce them to iireak up as soon as he hud had his s;iy. Vet as he hail seldom thwarted his children in any of their wishes, he at last turneil the movement in favour of further speechifying inlt» a half joke, and l(joking over t(^ Mrs. Olivei', who sat thret; }.»laces from him on his right, asked her if he would c;dl upon her husband for a song or a speech. " Oh, not a song, if you please." she cried, holding ui) her hands, "he's the most horrible singer ycju ever lieard." '' Even when my gracious helpmeet plays an accom- paniment," said (Oliver as an aside to his mother. " Still, I think sve should have the song," said Matt I 74 MR. NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. iif , i who 3at next to Mrs. Oliver. " As far as T am con- cerned I have become aceustomed to tlie most horrible things out our way." But Mr. Xayclian thought they had better follow Mrs. Oliver's advice, and so he called out to Oliver that it was not the thing for him to keep the company wait- ing, as they were all anxious to withdraw to the parlour to examine the pretty things. "Come, Oliver," said his mother, laying her hand proudly on his shoulder, "they all want to liear from you, and so do I," and at last he arose amid applause in which there was now little if any timidity. " it is not often 1 have a urudiije against a member of our family," said Oliver, by way of introduction. " Neil heie has vet to learn how^ to let well enough alone ; and Neil had to interrupt him by saying that lie had never heiu'd Oliver called "Well Enough" bcfoi't', bor- MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. (0 row, seeing I am given so little to it myself ; ami if T were called upon to sing a song it would be one of my own and one of my sweetest L would give you, seeing that like the old Scotchman who owned a lark, I can truly say that I have 'a sweet S'in(/stet\ o' my ain at hame/ not to mention other budding [)oets in my neighbourhood. But it is not a song, but a speech I have to give you, and what it is t(j be about is more than I can tell." " You can at least repeat tlie alijhabrt," exclaimed Prince. "Of vour brother Prince's grievances," crie[)oinlm(mts which neigh- bourin'j communities have had to bemoan, but in face of the fact ihat the system of such lost(!ring is wrong in principle. And short-lived as the success of a false prniciple must necessaiily be, yet the success of Mr. John ^L Xaydiau seemed to linger, though it could not be said to have had other foundation than the above. The bonus in business was Mr. Xaydian's discovery — I,-, I i?i |i 80 MR. NAYDIANS FAMILY CIKCLE. m and the; system of ])oiTo\ving to l)olster u)) liis allaiis was but tlie outgrowth oi liis discovery. To lie successful is next to being iiopuhir, and nobody knew tliis Ijetter than Mr. Xaydmu, willi liis varied ex- periences in life. And some said that in his strangely b(»ld (jnterpiises he was ever thinking less of the future of ilie firm than of his ])resent personal populai'ity. Nor could any one allege that the intre])ivl merchant did not care foi' jiojtularity, however little faith lie professed to have in its continuance. Ku doubt, like most of us, he dearly liked to Ite told that he was well thought of by ])('opl(^ ; ])ut whether he ever so far forgot himself as to l)uy popularity outside of his own family Ity bonus or gift, was more than arty one had ever any right to sav. But within his own famih' circle his (aaving for popularity was not so mucii of a secret. His sons were his riidit-hand men in his business all'airs, and thev knew iiow far the bonus principle had Ijeen intioduced in extending tlui ramitieations of the firm. Ihit they also knew, as their wives and children knew, what the old man was ever ready to do in the way of securing the favour of his own kindred. Indeed in tl,is connec- tion Mr. Naydian's extravagance knew no bounds, and nearly all his sons had at one time or another interfered with his lavish expenditure in tla^. matter of -fa.mily presents; though the interference luul nearly always been in vain. l'V)r if sometimes th(:',ir outcrv against this one getting such and such a thing, and against the other getting some other thing, would cause him for a time to pause in his personal expenditures, and even tc declare that he would give uo more presents, he would Jl v' MR. XAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. 81 ere long ir^rget all about his declaration, and be found throwinL'. a sop to some one of his sons who liad per- hap,-'. l)PCv)nie indie* iianfc over something or other, or to ^ome oae of liis <4randchildien who had taken the pet at iiim. When, therefore. Mr. Nav(Han's Christmas quests ad- jonrned from the dining-room to the chamber in which tlie Chiistmas presents had been laid out, tliey felt con- vinced that there were some surprises in store for them, /orisino; from the ohl man's extravagance, — sur- ]nises that might lead the heads of the branches of the firm to remonstrate with those wlio would think of accepting them, and thus make things disagreeable both to the giver and the receiver. If any have won- dered therefore at the patience with which Oliver and Jack were listened to at the end of the least in the dining-room, after the head of the household had inti- mated that the Christmas presents had been prepared for them in the parlour, they may readily surmise- why it was. Everybody was no doubt glad enough to re- ceive a present — perhaps a present which had been spoken of before, if not petitioned for, at some time during the year, — but after such a pleasant time round the dinner table, they were a little slow to venture upon an experience that would probably not be all con- m'atulation. The first to reach the parlour were tlu:; younger people under the guidance of ]\Ir. Xaydian himself, who, as we know by tliis time, was not always disin- clined to think that it was more blessed to give than to receive. So heedless was the rush that few, if any, 82 MR. NAYDIAN'S family CIPX'LE. were aware of tlivi hasty caucus which Mrs. Xaydian was able to hold with Oliver and Jack on the way out of the dining-room. Their conference, short as it neces- sarily had to be, was evidently sufficient for them to come to some kind of an understandimij as to their fu- ture concerted action ; and when Oliver closed his lips firmly and put his finger upon them, anyone could liav< seen at a glance what their policy was to be. "■ It is the old, old story, I suppose, mother," said Oliver, taking away his finger to relieve liimself in a half whisper. " Yes, the old, old story, Init bound in a more costly style of binding than ever," was her answer, witli a siah. "It is a good thing we are not nil spendthrifts," whispered riack in turn, though he had hardly time to notice the dubious effect of his words on Oliver's face, who could not refrain from smiling ; for his mother in- stantly chid him to l)e silent, as they approached the thresliold of the parlour. " We will be silent, if we can, until we h.ive liim (piietly by ourselves in tlie library ; and saying so Oliver broke up the caucus, and UmI liis nuyther into the room as if nothing of any importance had passed be- tween them. As they entered, an animated scene met their gaze The room was furnishiid in the same luxurious style as the drawing-room and dininii-room, and the various members of the Naydian family were Hitting hith(n' and thither in it with all the ecstacy of cliildren. All were smiling or laughing, aiul congratulating eithei- thein- if! MR. NAYDIAX S FAMILY CIRCLE. 83 selves or others ; and what with uttering words of commendation on some new present just discovered, or expressing words of gratitude towards the liberal donor of so many brilliant gifts, the scene was a very merry one indeed. There was something for each and all, and even more than one gift for each ; and on tliis ac- count it was some time before the distribution was com- plete. The confusion was what Mr. Naydian had hoped for, and it gave him joy to prolong it. For instance, an admiring group, lost in their encomiums over some marvel or otlier, would suddenly be disbanded by an exclamation of surprise from some other part of the room ; and for a moment there would be a rush towards the new point of interest, with such a joyous commo- tion that the old merchant would fairly rub his liands with delight as he stood watching the effects of his liberality. " And so, Mrs. Saucebox, you have really got what you wanted,'' he would say to some one of liis grand- daughters. " Yes, grandpa, and oh, how grateful I am to you for it," would probably be the answer. " That's all very nice, no doui)t; but liow long is your gratitude to last, Miss Minx. Till the n«3xt time, I sup- pose, so you had better look around and see if tliere is nothing else for you, in order that your gratitude may last until the time after the next time. Perluips that parcel on the cliifHrniere yonder is for you.'' And thus lie passed among them, pointing out to souie one a new surprise, half hidden somewhere, in order that it might be overlooked for a time, or sending one m 84 MB. NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. or tTo of the company after some other surprise which was perhaps not for tliem at all, — sometimes laughing witli the merriest of them, and sometimes lauf-hing at them. " So you th.'.ik it isn't for you, Norton," said he with a very (*omical smile on his face, us Norton happened to come from a corner of the room where lie had been examining a huge parcel bearing the initial of his name. " It may be for me, buG it may also be for Neil," was Norton's demure reply. " But do you know what it is ? " asked Mr. Naydian. Norton said that he had a pretty fair notion of its contents. '' And don't you want it ? " ^ " Certainl/ I waiit it, fatlierraud what is mure^ very much need it.'' " Do you think you need it more than Neil does ? " "Not more perhaps, but just as mucli," " Neil, come here, for a moment," said Mr. Naydian, for Neil was standing near them, " Have you looked at the parcel over there in the corner ? " -I have ; at least i have an idea what is in it." " Norton says he needs it more than you ; that is he thinks he has as good a right to it as you have. And I want to know if you are able to settle the matter ami- cably between you, seeing it is marked only with an 'N.' It may belong to either of you as far as the address is concerned." " But to whom does it belong, father ? For if you. don't Jiiiow, who else is there to tell us ? " i%. ^IfL^ MR. NAYDIAN'S family CIRCLE. 85 " As I have said already, it may belong to either of you ; so you had Ijetter i^o over, the two of you, and have a look at the thing ; take off the wrappings and admire it as nmch as yjii like, and then decide who is to have it. lie very careful not to have any words over it though." Was there the policy of Champlain's treaty with the Indians in Mr. Xaydian's at lion? If there was, Neil was surely cunning enough to see through it, for he winked at Xorton iind then turned to his father to ask what their decision would amount to, should it nappeu to b^ difierent from lik decision. "i,n, thatis another question," laughingly replied Mr. Naydian, " Give me your decision first, and then I shall more likely come to an unerring decision for myself. Perhaps you had better take Hal and John with you to liave a IooJ< at the thing and help you to come to a decision. So, ho, Fred what is this you have found, and Charlotte you too ? " Xeil and Xorton, escaping into the corner of the room, which was an easy tiiinu for ihem to do, for tlie atteii- tion of tlie others was tixed upon other things, soon found themselves eagerly umloing tlie wrappings of the parcel marked with a capital N. " We had better keep cool, okt man," said Neil, "We know what it is pretty well, >!o there is no use for any haste. I'retty sly on the part of the governor, isn't it, to leave the decision, who is to have it, witli us ? But nary a ([uarrel will we have over the matter, eh, Norton. Did you say you had ukh'c need of it than I?" ** Not at all ; what T did say was that I had just as much need of it as you." 86 MR. NAYDIAN's family CIRCLE. t 'A " Ah, I thought so ; hiy as a fox is the governor ; but we are not likely to fall out, for all that, though we must keep tliese two young chaps at a distance until we can come to a decision ; for they are not so cool in the blood as we are, and might cut up a siiindy before we had reached a decision. My conscience, what a beauti- ful piece of workmanship it is, and if the reality is only as tine looking as the model, as it undoubtedly will be, it is surely like Eve's apple, a thing to be desired. What think ye, Norton ? " " I think it is one of the tinest models of a business depot I have ever seen. .V man could make something out of a thing like that. Here's the main building, with the centml oltices, and the wings with their store- houses, and all the other appliances necessary for a general place ol Ijusiness such as we require. If we decide the thing is to be yours, Xeil, 1 am afraid I shall envy you." " But we needn't decide that it is to be only mine," answered Neil. " No ? how's thaL ? It cau't go to both of us, unless we amalgamate uui* branches, and you know father is not in favour of that. ' " No ; but each of us can have one," and the two brothers looked in each other'- faces until they began to laugh. " Not bad for you, Neil: an excellent decision ; you can make Hal the ovtrseer of yours, and John can take charge of mine. But hn^w abo»iii the old man's decision ? Will he agree to it ?" " If he doesn't, well *i& tor uue for the wo of imT !• MK. NAYDLVNS FAMILY CHICLE. 87 " Yes ?" " And amalgamate our branches." " Amalgamate ?" " Yes ; thrrntcii to amalgamate." " Ha, ha ! Capital !" said Xorton, and he took his brother by the hand and shook it warndy. " The governor's sly — eh, Neil? — 1)iit he can't catch a weasel aslee[), can he ? Nor two weasels either. So let us go over at once and intorm him that we are wide awake — perfectly wide awake." Mr. Naydian saw tliem approach, and was hardly able to conceal the surprise he felt at tlie friendliness in tlieir manner towards him and towards each other. The plot had thickened the wrong way, evidently. " Well, what do you think of the model f " It is simply superb," answered Neil. " It is maunificent," said Norton. "Ah! I was sure you would think well of it. Ihit who is to have it ?" The brothers seemed to hesitate. "What's the decision ?" " The decision is/' said Neil, " that we are both to have it/' " Then you must want to ludve it ?" And of course they had to laugh at ^their^ father's pun, poor as it was. " No, no," said Neil ; " we eacli want one." " But there's only one." " Yet two can be budt." " From the same model ?" " Yes, of course." " But the expense ?" 83 MR. NAYDIAN's family CirtCLE, k i- ' ■«■!■ " Well, of course," said Neil, " tlie expense is always a diiliculty, even at Christmas lime ; Init we are both so taken with it and its many conveniences, that we were thinking we coidd perhaps amalgamate oui' branches, so that we might make use of such business accommodation in common." " Amalgamate ?" snuffed Mr. Naydian. " Ah : that's a diderent matter. That's another idea, though I didn't tlunk of it. You can leave your decision witli me, and I will consider how far it is practicable. I shall not be likely to leave a decision in the hands of two such smart fellows again," was wluit lie muttered to himself, however, as he passed across the room. " 1 really in- tended to give it to Norton, and spite Master Neil ibr his late exhibition of pertness in our business affairs down his way." Without actually reading a list of the presents, and a description of the most costly of them, it would be ini- possible for the rea LS la )f 3 from liim openly as did the others. Jack's wife and Oliver's too had Ijeen known to apply to him for money, and even Matt's wife had on one occasion got all the money she had asked for, buL no[)ody ever knew how nuicli they had got, nor even for a certainty from whom they had got it. When spoken to about this whim, he always said that it was a principle of his ; the husband and the wife were one, and whatever was given to the one was given to the other ; and yet his principle did not seem to justify liis readiness in giving some of his daughters-in-law money to pay their personal debts. Even in the case of his own wife, he seldom bestowed monev i^ratuities on her, and often while living in the nudst of plenty, and having tlie run of the house, as the saying is, she would tind herself in straits in the matter of pin money. At a season like Christmas slie would have been only too glad to have given some evidence of her good will towards her children by bestowing on them a present or two. IJut it was utterly beyond her power ; for even as it was, to meet her own small ex- penses, she had sometimes to induce Mr. Naydian to give her a special cheque for tlie house and take what she wanted for her own personal expenditures out of it. When Oliver, therefore, asked his UKJther, as they met in the room after hfivin*'' minnled with the others, what she was going' to give him for a Christmas present, they had only to laugh at it together as a good joke. " I only wish 1 could allbrd to give you something, but really Oliver times arc very hard with, me." " As they generally are with all our wives good or bad ; and Oliv'er laughed and brought Neil over to hear 90 Mil. naydian's family chicle. itr wluiL his mother liad said, and soon Jack came u[), and Norton, and then Matt, to liear wliat they were laugh- ing at and talking al)out. " By gum," said Matt, " it seems to me that we chaps might give the old" — but Oliver frowned at his impul- sive brother and made Iiim halt in what he was going to say. " Well," said he, " we might ask the governor to be a little more liberal towards the women f(jlks." " And thus make them all the more independent of their rightful lords and masters, I suppose," returned Neil. " But a proposition of this kind has been made be- fore." said Jack, " and 1 do noL think there would be very much harm in nuiking an allowance to theuL It sometimes seems a shame that they should have to assume such responsibilities and be excluded from shar- ing in tlie liberality of the times." But Oliver gave no encouragement to Jack, and main- tained that to make any such an allowance would be against the spirit of the past. " But it isn't against the spirit of the present," said Matt. " I think it would be," continued Oliver," but it wouldn't be against the spirit of the present, if all stories be true of the odd cheques which some of our wives receive now and again from headipiarters, if we were to see that our mother here were better supplied with the needful. Jhit we must not say anything about the matter here ; though I may give her some assur- ance that I will look after her interests anionu the rest of you. MU, NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIUCLK. 01 e Mr. Xaydiau was not long in observing, from the chair wliicli he had talcen to examine the presents given to Victoria and Charlotte, that there was something go- ing on among his sons, and he ruse to Join them, though Mrs. Xaydian was (|uick enough to interru]>t him, and thus allow the boys, as she still calleil them, to whisper among themselves. " It's all right," Matt was overheard saying. "xVnd yet some people may think it all wrong," wln'spered Norton. " I)Ut here comes the governor to see what's up, probably." And so it was, for Mr. Xaydian, having escaped from Mrs. Naydian, came up to them, and broke in u[)on the conversation by asking IMatt what he tliought of Winnie's Christmas presents. " My dear pap, you'll make that girl too proud. I soon won't dare have a mind of my own, with all the airs slie puts on. Yet she's not a bad sort of a girl either ; is she now ? A good deal of go about the lilly, too ; though I'm afraid you pamper her, and make her believe that there's more go in her than there really is. She's been roughly brought up, you know, — and has not been accustomed to all the finery you have given her of late." " Siie wants a new carriai-e all for herself." " What, in addition to all you have given her ? " *•' Yes and she wants me to help you to linish that avenue of yours." " Well, that's kind of the jade ; and are you going to do it ? " " We shall see about that ; but are you really pleased with the new tigure-head I have given you for your pavillion ? " .(f IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) / V :/. O If/ ^ ^^^- A' 4L*y MP- ^ w, (/. 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^ ill lis "^^ M 22 ■-' Ujj ^ it li£ illM 1.8 U llllli.6 V^ <^ /a 'eZ e. ^'^W 0%' ^M eM c^l o 7 A ^ /A ^ Photograpliic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 Ls L-P/ 02 MR, NAYDIANS FAMILY CHICLE. »l "Pleased! Who would'nt be pleased with it? no wonder Winnie and the rest of us are in ccstacies over your goodness. Many, very many thanks to you in- deed." And then Mr. Naydian told how Neil and Norton had got the better of him about the model, or rather how tiiey proposed both to take advantage of what it stood f;or. " Olivv^r here does not approve of these proceedings, even at a Christmas time, and lience I have not tried to bribe him. Eh, Oliver, isn't that the word ? " But Oliver remembering the agreement lie had made with his mother before entering the room, simnned any controversy on the subject. " And Tom is trying to take after liis father ; just as perhaps Monty and Queen are trying to take after theirs. Eh, Jack ! Perhaps you thought I had overlooked you. But if a diamond ring is not to be enough for 3''ou, you may go over to the Koman vase there and you will find that cheque duly drawn out and signed, which you know you have been asking me for." Was Mr. Naydian again trying the policy of Champ- lain among the Indians ? If so, the frown on Oliver's face showed that he was on the point of being more successful on this occasion tliiin when lie hat! experi- mented with Neil and Norton. Even these two gen- tlemen did not seem to be very well pleased, when Jack went over to the vase and found tliat his father had not been joking with him, although they had been told previously that if their father arranged for the cheque, the money would have to come out of Jack's iudividual interest in the firm. lit!' MR. NAYDIAN'S family CIRCLE. 93 " I wonder if I wanted a cheque of that kind, ' mut- tered Oliver as ho passed over to the chair his father had left, " whetlier the old man would arrange it so readily for nie. I trow not. Vet all the same, I don't think Jack should cash the thing, and I have half a mind to tell him so by and bye." "That is ratiier a hard nut for Oliver to crack," chuckled the father as he left Neil and Norton to dis- cuss it between them. "An internecine war over forty thousand dollars would not be the worst of evils for me ; and who knows that it nuiy not occur, even if Jack is willing to sacrifice six thousand to gain such a sum for his own purposes.'' liut Oliver had e/idently determined to delay the internecine war, if such a strife was ever likely to take place, and had put away the hard nut that his father had given him to crack ; for in the chair wliicli his father had left he soon became a centre of attraction to the younger folks. Otta was the lirst of his own children to come and shov; him the magnificent work-box she had received and sundry other Iteautiful presents. Tom had nothing to show, and so he kept away, knowing that he had his fatiier's connnendation for refusing everything. King and Ham and Londy had received a few things and had not refused them, and j-et were bold enough to show them to their father. And as these left, his nephews and nieces ciowded round him, for Uncle Oliver was popular with all of them. Hal showed him tlie new pendant, in the shape of a golden sheaf of wheat, which he had received for his watch- chain, and several other valuable trinkets. Ituth aad i: % l«T,' ;:"«■ :!,i, I f IP I P~ i ;r 11+ - 94 MR. NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. I;:: m m at Yar ran over to him with their arms full of the toys which children delight in, and told him how some of their small cousins, who had to remain at home, had been provided for in the same way. John showed him with nnu'h pride the beautiful writini,' bureau and let- ter box he had received, while Fred displayed before his eyes, with as much pride, tlie ring on his finger which was shaped in imitation of a railway-bridge. Charlotte told him of tlie new skill' which was hers, though it was about the first thing he had noticed on entering the room, being the main object of attraction in one of the corners. •' It will be better than tlie old rattle-trap I received so many years ago," said she exultingly. "Yes, if you only think so when yowfimjd about the old rattle-trap," laughed her uncle. " Well, that's so ; for I used to think my old skiff was good enough for me, until some people told me that there were better boats to be had. Dut don't you think she is a fine looking craft, uncle." " I do,'' said he, " and I wish you joy of it." And while Oliver was thus busy with some of his nephews uud nieces, Jack had pocketed his cheiiue and became engi-ossed with the importunities of Monty and Queen and Winnie, and had even spoken kindly to Vic- toria and King and Otta. " That's something like a bureau, isn't it father," said Monty, " and look at all ihese beautiful trinkets be- sides. And do you know, father, I believe I shall get the villa after all. (rrandfather has all but promised it." MR. NAYDIAN'S family CIRCLE. n said be- get Lsed "And he has all but promised me a diamond ring," exclaimed Queen. "Ah," said the fatlier, " I am afraid I shall get that; but if you like, you will have the wearing of it. Yuu will wear it on your middle linger I suppose, and give your father the credit for getting it for you. This chei[ue is enough for me," and he told Queen and Monty of what he had found in the vase, at which of course they were very much delighted. Then Winnie came along to uncle Oliver, with her arms full of things, just as had Ruth and Yar ; but her presents were all much more valuable than were those given to the children of Neil. Victoria also showed him the beautiful model of a steamboat, full of nick- nacks of one kind or another. " And grandpa says he is going to give me one, l)uilt on the same plan, in which my little brother Van and I can sail across the big pond near our own door. Van, you know, uncle, is but a little fellow yet, and what is mine he can use. When grandpa gives me the big boat I can give Van the small one, though I am afraid, when he sees mine, he will want a bigger one for himself, for he's an awf\dly ambitious little fellow is dear little Van. He really thinks that he is as big as I am, do you kn(jw, and would even like to play the tyrant with all of us at home." Uncle Jack said he had no doubt there was a great future before Charlotte's brother. " I have little folks of my own at home, who are as ambitious as Va?i, and it is pretty hard at times to keep them under. They seem to think that what they want t 1 i'i 96 MR. NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CHICLE. must be done. But here comes King. How have yon fared, Kin^,' ?" " Oh pretty fair," said King. " You're both a scholar and a soldier now.*' " Some folks say I'm a kind of convict as well, uncle." " Ha, ha, rather a mixed reputation, I should think. But if there's anything of the convict about you, your good looks are not in keeping with your character, and I have known you ever since you were a little chap. What have you got here ?" "A volume of poems, Kant's Philosophy, and a book of pictures." " Presents ?" " No, I always carry them about with me." " But what did you get as Christmas gifts ?" " Oh, a good deal for the convict part of me, a little for the soldier in me, and nothing at all for what there is of a scholar about me," and King exhibited the presents he had received. "By the way, 1 lieard you were going to join Tom in business," said liis uncle, when he had examined the presents carefully. " What ; in the jail-bird liiiG ?" " Oh, no ; in the book-business ; that is, some people thought it might be probable." "Never a probable," said King, "there isn't the faint- est hope of such ever being the case. Of course the book-business is really what I have been bred to, and I am as fond of reading books as of making them, perhaps more so; but as for entering into a partnership with anybody, more especially with Tom, I never had the re- MR. NAYDFAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. 97 motest idea of it. Even if Tom wore to oiXvr to make my chief clerk the iiKina^erof th.e joint concern, I vvonhi be little inclined to think of such a partnership. ]>iit here comes Londy who will tell you how he has so far succeeded as a market n'iirdener," and so King went off with a book in each poclet and one or two volumes under his arm, and with his Christmas presents all secreted about hi.i person. l>ut uncle Jack had not time to question Londy al)out his allairs Just then; for, elate with the forty thousand dollars in his pocket, lie thought he might find out what the ladies iiad to say about the events of the evening. Oliver had had a chat with Mis. Prince and Mrs. llertie, and he did not see why he should not follow his br<»ther's example. But in thus resolving, he had hardly ex- pected tliat Mrs. ]Matt would come up to him of her own accord, to tell him how much she had enjoyed hi> short pithy speech at the dinner table. " I am glad you were pleased with it," said he. " But how do vou like the Christmas presents?" *' Oh, well enough," and she shrugged her shoulders much in the same way as .lack was sometimes accus- tomed to do himself. " But then there were none of them for me," ahe continued, "for we women folks are not of much account on an occasion such as this. What we get looks more like stealing than anything else.*' " Yet you do get something now and again, — an odd che(|ue for instance, or a souvenir from hejubpiarters." l)Ut Mrs. Matt only shook her iiead and laugheti. " I sometimes think yon ladies are not over well- treated amid all this show of liberality. But, as you I .;i1 '?; !• t ■ 'If' ;.«' tffl *' m 08 MR. NAYDIaNS family CIKCLK. know, it is not very easy to make futlior oliange his opinion when once lie takes a notion in his liead. The fact is, you wives don't seem to have a share in the spoils at all." "That is perhaps only as you think," answered Mrs. Matt. "Our sharing of the spoils depends altofjethor upon what Mr. Naydian thinks of our loyalty or dis- loyalty towards him personally. We loyal d.uighters- in-law," and she shrugged her shoulders and made a grimace, " have a money-order olhcc of our own, which you heads of the branches don't know anything altout. But never mind, Jack, I shall always be loynl to you." This was a confession which Mr. Jack Naydian hardly expected to heai' from his si.slur-in-law, notwith- standing the good feeling which had always existed be- tween them ; and it was with difficulty he could conceal his surprise. Yet being anxious to know more about this secret money-order office, if there really was any secret about it, he gave Mrs. Matt reason t<» urrlcrstand from his looks that he would have her tell him more. " When you want money do you draw on the firm ^ ' " Never a draw," replied Mrs. Matt. " There is a third party — an independent sort of ;i gentleman, who acts as medium, and we receive our cheques from bin)." ''How much do you generally receive?" and Jack tried to put his question in the most indiflerent manner pos- sible, though his seeming indiffcretic(^ did not deceive his shrewd sister-iu-law. " Oh, sometimes quite a sum, and sometimes not so much," said she. "And from whom do you receive the cash, after you have received your cheque ?" . % MR. NAYDIANS FAMFLY CUlCLK. 99 " From our secret moiiey-ordei* oMice." " Hilt who is the aji^ent of this money-order office?" " Ah, that is more than I dare tell," and Airs. Malt informed her brother-in-law thai she had sworn not to reveal the secret agent's name to any of the branch managers. " 1 would tell vou if I dared," she whis- pered; "and I know you will not force me to do what is wrong. Jack assured her he would die before he would think of doing such a thing. " And we are good friends, are we not ?" she said, still whispering confidentially. " Of course we are, as we always have been," was Jack's reply. "And you will help me .whenever you can ?" " Of course I will," was his further reply. "Then help me to iinmask that old scoundrel's iiypo- critical face," and she made a pause after every word. Jack stood thunderstruck. "Whom do you mean ?' he stammered out. "Whom should [ mean?'' she asked with the fire of hatred flashing from her dark eyes. " Surely not my father ?" " Yes, your father." " And you call him a scoundrel ?' " Yes, and a hypocrite besides." " Do you know him to be such ?'' "I know him to be both." " In what way ?" " In the surest of ways— from personal experience. Why he has actually attempted to—" i 100 Mil. NAVOIAN'S KAMII.Y CFKCLK. " Take care, AFrs. Matt ! You're loryclting your- self." " Not a bit of me. T aui not the iirst wife he lias tried to turn a«^ainst lier hushiind, aiul 1 dou'l eare if the whole world knows how he has aUeni[»ted to corrupt me, and to deceive those witli whom 1 am con- nected." " Why, I thought father and you were the very best of friends." " And so we nrrc until — until — " " Until the money-nnler l»ank Itiokc," and Jack thought to try to laugh her nut of her tantrum. "The money-order bank isn't brokf. 1 have money from il in my purse at the present momeuL." " 'I'lien what is the trouble ^" " He broke his |»romise to me, — a ])romise which he had all but sworn to fulfill. He jjlayed the game * heads I win and tails you lose' with me as he has with so many others, but I am not done with liim yet," and again the dark eyes flashed with the ominous light of hatred. " Ifush, hush," said Jack, " wo will talk about this matter again. Here comes Prince's wife and she may overhear us, and here comes the coH'ee also." Prince's wife was perhaps the least suspicious of the Navdian wives, and when she took her seat beside Mrs. Matt and Jack, she looked so innocent that they were sure she was not going to ask them what they had been whispering about. They were therefore evidently pleased to receive her notwithstanding her interrup- tion. Nor had the little woman anything to talk MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLK. 101 a))out but the presents and the marvollous heauty of most ot tliein. "They are simply luvuly,'' she sau], and away she went in a loni^^ liuinarole ahout hi^r (hiughter Charlotte, and how deseiving she was of lier i^randfathijr's notice, atid how l)('autifid everybody said she was becoming. For it (Higlil U) be known that Mrs. Trince was not an cdiicaled ])erson, and on tliis account had to talk aj^ood deal about her »j\vn ailairs when she took cliarge of a cuuNcrsation as she was «h)ing now. Indeed she was in many respects not uidike lier husband — narrow-iiiinded a little, and sometimes even pompous. " Ves, they are sim])ly lovely ; and so is this cof!"ee, d(jn't you think so; l)ut 1 suppose we will be losing the gentlemen soon, for you know they think they must smoke when they drink their collide, and if they want to smoke (hey have to adjourn tn the library. Tiiere goes Mr. -*»'*'^^*' t Ml'- U I M 1, .■ <\, Bf'Va no MR. NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIliCLR. " The policy of the lirni must be one and the same." '* P)iit the branches may be as economical as they chooRe." " And be out of the fashion." 'M'ashion be fiddled!'' said Mr. Xavdian somewhat impatiently. "Faultfinding seems to be the fashion wiih some people nowadays. Yet, my boys, I am will- \ns ofa well selected librarv, gave an air of comfort to the apartment. On the fourth side were arianged on either side of the mantle piece several richly coloured paintings depicting the forest life of the hunter and other scenes of western experi- ence. A cal)inet of curiosities stood in one corner of the room surmounted by several statuettes of local work- manship, while in another stood on a triple pedestal of beautifully polished red granite the busts of Cobnnbus Cabot and Cartier. (.)ver the door leading t(» the hall, there was hung the engraving of a document which at first sight might have been taken for the Magna Charta or the Death Warrant, but which on closer examination proved to be a copy of the original agreement drawn up in favour of the consolidation of the firm of John M. Nay- dian and C'o. Here and there were to be seen articles of Indian handicraft ; while, among the volumes on the shelves were to be found the works of many authors MK. NAYDIANS FAMILY CIRCLE. 113 4 whose names were proljubly only kn'nvn to Mr. Xaydian himself and his sons. Every article was in keeping with the furnishings of the house, with more of tlie rnifii/ne in the tout t.^i-^diihle perhaps, yet still l)etokeninc; tlie eomfort of wealth ratlier than its display. And Mr. Xaydian's sons seemed to ho eonseious of tlii.s, as they lay at theu' ease on the soft ehairs and couches, en- joying their siesta and their havanahs. [luhiftd, who will say that the cijntentment of spirit which comes aftt r a good dinner had not much to do with the easy escape which their father had heen ahle to make from their animadversions. " The old man is always strong on tlie ' loyalty ' argument," said Norton somewhat languid) v as he emitted a mouthful of smoke and watched it curling towards the ventilator. " And yet hov/ few of us really know what it mciuis, * exclaimed Oliver, who had looked not a little disap- pointed at the withdrawal of his father from the room. " Besides it has hecome a little threadbare as an argu- ment." " Yet I notice it always shuts you up, Oliver," said Jack, shrugging his shoulders and making a grimace. " No son likes to break the tiftli commandment every time he argues with his father." "But what does it mean, anyh>w ?" cried Prince. " Ask Jack,' said Oliver. " He ought to know, for he is never done saying that he is loyal. I say. Jack, let us have your definition of loyally — the virtue that bringeth the biggest slice, eh ?" 8^ I I J14 MI{. NAYDIAN S l-AMIi.Y CIIK'I-K. " Biij slices are not a bad tiling to a liuii;^!}' man," shouted flack, laising Ids voice above the laughter. " A forty thousand dolhir slices oii-hl to make a luscious slice, e/en for a nian who isn't hungry," sidd Xorton, slyly. " Come, come," said Jack, "none of that ; all is lair in love and war. Yourtuin will vahvui next, and none of us will grudge you voiu big slice." " I>ut what if 1 am not loyal encjugh ?" said Xorton. " Then he loyal." " Uut supjto.se 1 can't be loyal until T get my big slice ?" 'Then lovaltv with you must be the cH'ect of some- thing tangible. The lootiter's crow conies fiom the eeg Well, as you have had your egg, why not hatch your crow?" " My egg has been so small, that I am afraid my crowing would hardly be heard," ret(»ited Xorton, amid increasing merriment. " But loyalty is surely not all crowing," said T*rince. " You mean ))crhaps that your crowing is not all loyalty." "Nor is yours either, jVIasler Jitck, if all stories are true," returned Prince, with more pertness in his tones than was plefisant ; for Oliver saw a Hash in duck's eye which induced him to interfere to prevent an explosion. " I'm afraid we will hardly be aolc to discover the true definition of loyalty in this way ' said he. " Nor- ton's remark has removed the prol)leni witliin the realm of philosophy, and none of us have so far shone in that sphere. Which was first — the egg or the Inrd — is some- MK. NAYDIAN'.S FAMILY CIRCLE. 115 tliin;^' tliat has yot to be solved ; aiul in this loyalty there seems to l)e an rrftt and a nnn-n/n — the scntinietit and the somelhinf^ on wliich it treds — and the nietaphy- sieians are still as faraway as ever from estal)lishin«,' a definite ratio l)et\ve:'n the two. So we had l)etter ke(«j> awjiy from a reahn which tlic ]ihilo.sophers fear to tread." "Hut would it ho a disloyalty for me to trade, or to wish to trade, with our uncle over the way ?" asked Prince. " You may trade with whomsMpver you like, as long as you can make a reasonable profit," answered Oliver. '• I'm astonished you should ask .such a question, Tiince, a man of your good sense and .shrewflnes^." At this Jack emitted a mouthful of smoke, and at the same time a low kind of a whistle, though the latter was probably only an acciderjt from the curving of his lips ; while Norton remarked that he thought Oliver was a little too fast in condemning Prince. "The fact is our three branches — Neil's, T'rince's. and my own — are not a little hampered in our trade exten- sions, with firms that have no associate connection with our own firm, and whenever we ydead for a riddante of the lestrictions the old man at once begins to express a doubt in our loyalty." " We are all very much in the same box," said Oliver, " And is there no remedy ^" asked Norton. "None that I know of, unless we take our uncle into partnership," and they all laughed heartily. " Could we not make an exception in his case, in the matter of trading facilities ?" " That is hardly the question ; is he willing to make an exception in our favour, is the way to put it." i'"' 1 1' n M • 1 ■-■ ' ! i 116 MK. KAYDIAN'S KAMII.Y CIlifl.E. "Catch him, the old fox," cried Jack. " In such a j^'ame, we must (ro the whole ho^f or none, eh, ^Miver ?'' "I'm afraid that is the size of it." " And we won't." " I think not just yet." "Then after all it is wrong lo lliiiik of trading with hiu)," said Trince, "at least to think of trading with liini on the same teinis as we do with one another." " Tt is neither right or wrong ; it is impo.«sihlc,'' e.x- claimed Jack, and the emphasis with which he spoke brought the discussion to an end, though I'rince had time to mutter lietvveeu his teeth thut if Jack's influ- ence in the firm had heen less than it u.is he would })rohal»ly have l')een a little less inclined to use the word impossible. For a time there was silence. The di.scussion of a partnership with theii' uncle had iilwriys a depressing efif'ect upon the brothers. They weie indeed always afraid to consider the question with aiiy degree of hiti- tude, for there was a susjticion among them that they were not all equally averse to the ttionght of such a partnership. Neil had gone perhaps further than any of them in advocating a closer trade relationship be- tween the firm and his uncle. He had even threatened to withdraw from the firm, in oriler that he might extend the trade of his branch ; but, as we have seen, the only result of the threat was to raise a laugh when- ever it was mentioned. Matt was also inclined to cast longing eyes on the profitable business his uncle was doing, and at times thought it a shame tfiat he could not have a finger in such a luscious pie ; but" what- MR. N'AYDIAN S FAMILY CIHCLK. 117 ever he hud dait^il to say ahoiit his wishes in the mat- ter had ahviiys l)oen set aside by the others as so much bhister. l)iuiu,i:; Lhf silence wliich un'^ued after J.ick's em- ]»liati(' reply to I'riuce, a step Wiis heard in the hall ap- jjroachiii.;- the liljrary door. JL was a step wliicli they rec(>;^niized at once as tlie niother's ; and, as if by in- siiuct, tliere was a general movement in the room to re- ceive her. All rose to welcome her when her matronlv form appeared in the doorway, and 01iv(>r stepped for- ward to invite hei- to his seat. ' Will you hav»i a ei;.,Mr, mother mine ?" said Oliver with a mock soleninitv whiih made them all laugh. '• We were just awailin*^ ihf arrival of some one to stir the silent waters, for <;oniehow or other the conversa- tion hail come to a stand-still. Not at all. your l»resence is no interru])tion ; it is rather a relief, so make yourself at home, and ;^ive us something pleasant to talk about." TIumi lu' laised his eyes toward thr door wheie stood Mis. rrince and Mrs. Burtie. " Ah, more of the L>eutle sex : walk in ladies, we are all delighted to have you join us ; vour husbands will f'ive you their seats and find others for themselves. But what is this, have Prince and Bertie disappeared ?" " We met them in the hall going back to the par- lour," said Mrs. Prince. "To show tlieir gallantry, t suppose,'' said Oliver. " Or their loyalty," cried Jack. " Is father in the parlour, mother ?" asked Oliver. jV^^^s. Naydian said he was. hen give us something nice to discuss ; we won't i s v I Si .,;^i lilS ■'■;' ii^ '11 118 MR. NAYDIANS FAMILY CIRCLE. be disturbed for a while yet. What siiall it be, our own affairs or the affairs of the worhl at lar'jje?'' " Have you been sitting mum in one another's pres- ence all this time ?" asked his mother. " Oh no, father gave us a bone to pick before he left ua. ' '• And have you picked it ?" " Well no, there is something left on it yet ; so per- haps you and our loyal sisters will help us to finish the job." " And what was the bone, pray ?" " Oh, it was about the afi^^iirs of the firm." " And what about the affairs of the firm ? Did hp make any promise to reduce running expenses ?"" " He made a half-promise of some kind or other in that direction ; ])ut that was before he flung us the bone to pick." "As a solatium ?" " r suppose so." " And has it solaced you?" " You may find out for yourself.'' Oliver then proceeded co tell his mother what his father had said about the destiny of the firm. "Some think we have three iilternaiives," and he enumerated these on his fingers. "But he thinks we have a fourth." " And what is the fourth alternative ?" " That the firm remain as it is, in its indirect connec- tion with the parent firm at home." " And what is your decision ?'' " We have not discussed the fourth alternative." •• No V Mil. XAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. 119 " But vvL' ha e decided against the proposal of part- iiersfiip with uur uncle." " Yes?" " AV^! think, at least 'lack thinks, it would be rank disloyalty to entertain such a proposal." " But nohody has made the proposal ?" " Yet it lias been mooted." " Bv whom?" " By some of uncle's friends.'' " And oar enemies, I suppose. Well, I am glad to learn that my boys are sensible lads after all. No good can come from any such }troposal iu the meantime. Those wh(j think of such a connection as a possible one, are carried away by tlieir self-interest. Indeed before we can be absorbed like that we will have to try our own luck as an independent concern. Have you dis- cussed I he third alternative ?" "No, mother, not a word. We feel independent enough as it is, that is speaking for John M. Naydian and Co. as a whole." " Piut not for the branches of that firm, T suppo.se '" and Mrs. Xaydian looked from one son to thv; other with a pleasant smile, in which there was a trace of gentle qui^^zing. When Ium' eye reached Jack's, she saw tliat he had something in say, and so she encouraged him to sav it. Jack unburdened himself of his thoughts on the suliject of the disabilities under which the various branches laboured in their individual attempts to de- velop trade. " 1 think father sees the folly of his present system of rf •IS t 4\ I (I mi 120 MR. NAYDIANS FAMILY CIRCLE. dividing the profits, though he has hardly gone as far as to say so. Yet, this is not altogether our main griev- ance. There are expenditures which the general firm ought to assume, and there are items of revenue which ought to go to those who supervise the branches." "In other words, tlie branches want more money to spend," said Mrs. Naydian, somewhat slyly, and Oliver's eyes sparkled at his mother's note of explana- tion. " Well, you can put it in that way, if you like, mother. If we want more money, it is because we need more money." " And yet you want your father to be more economical in his expenditures" — " In his needless expenditures," interrupted Jack. "In order that his sons may have more money to spend on what is necessary for the development (^f each branch. T suppose that is the proper way to put it." ' Now you have it, mother ; and 1 am sure there is nothing unreasonable in our demands." " But I have not heard them all yet." " Well then, tliere they are," and Jack o. ? I trow not. I know some of you will wonder whal all this means. It means nothing more nor less than what my dear ]\latt lieie has called the grumhling process materialized as a gene- ral movement. I'»iit, as he says, there is now nothing to it. The Iminehes, a little unsettled in their demands, have heen eomnuini(;ating with one another, and my dear Jack here thonglit (o juit their griovances in writ- ing. Ihit :iow evi'i-ytliing i? settled amicably. Eh, Jack.? you haven't lost your cheque ? And, now that it oidy needed lliis irieident to renew our confidence in one another, we caii, with the pleasantest feelings in our hearts, l)id one another good-night. I think you all kuovv the way to your respective chambers." " Good-night I grandpapa!"' said Otta, going up to him the first ; "and thank you for your explanation. 1 couldn't liave sle])t if you hadn't told us what it was all about," and tlius, with the favourite grandchild, began the process of kissing good-night all round, until all had retired for the nii>ht. MK. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIKCJ.K. 127 CHAITEI;, VI. THE SANCTUM AND THE PAKTING. VJ/HEN the family eircK- bad (Uspersed to the V various chambers stit apart for them in the mansion, ^h\ and Airs. Naydian. before hnally retiring for the night, found retreat in what was known as Mr. Naydian's sanctum — a cozy sort or a room at the end of the hall, where the merchant, turning liis liack at times n))on his own magnifioeiu'e, often held conference with his more intimate friends. As is usually the custom «»f host and bostess, r.fter the entotainment tliey have pro- vided for their guests is well over, Air. and Airs. Nay- dian bad evidently come together in the mnrium to talk over the events of the day. "Well, Isabi.'l," said the husband, " we have passed through the ordeal with rrhlj, I think ; everything seems to bave gone off veiy well, notwithstanding all tire many little incidents of a trying kiml tbat have oc- curred. Tbat last little bit of peace-making of mine, I am sure, must have given you some satisfaction ?" !i| ■■' .III ; i 'I'll '■n, n \m I \ i' ii m ■'|i;l 128 MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. " It's a case oF ' sill's well that ends well ' witli both of lis, r suppose," answered the wife ; " Imt how you came to plan your peace-niakiuL;' is more than f (•an make out. Indeed, had I not almost if. mediately (h^tected your previous knowled;4C of what was in the paper, I would have pitied [lofjr Jack " "And yoursolF, too, perhaps, Isabel ?" " Well, it did look as if you all l)iit suspected me of having a iin;^(!r in the pie " " In tlie plot, you mean, my dear." " 1 know nothin;; of a ]>lot !" she al once exclaimed ; •* but if there was a plot, how came you to convince yourself, sir, that there was a plot ?" " By reading between the lines my dear." " Then you had read the paf)cr ?" "CerUiinlv!" and Mr. Naydian looked at his wife as if he had some misgiving about her intellectual faculties. " There is no .secret about the paper, though there was a secret about the plot." " And what may this wondrous plot l)e, pray ?'' But Mr. Xaydian did not answer his wife's (piestion in so many words. Taking her hanil in his, and smiling in her face, lu; whispered something about some of ler sons beiny over fond ol" her. *' Thev know as well as I do, Isabel, that you are a womin born to rule, and tliey think at times to hasten the event of vour taking charge of things. But we need not talk further of their plots and plottings to-night, my dear. This is Chris;t- ulas Day, you know, and to agree to differ is easy enough for us on such a day; besides, we have ai'gued the question often enough without much effect either MR. NAYDIANS FAMILV CIRCLE. 129 one way or another. By the way, T suppose, you noticed how our grandchildren are growing; how fat they are and full of sap, and ever nourishing!" Mr. Naydian was evidently determined to close the day, as he had begun it, by being facetious. But if it was really his intention to make his gooil lady smile, he certainly fell somewhat short of succes-; ; for the covert meaning of her husband's j>layfulness was as plain to her as was his reference t«) the >:o-c;dl(' 1 plottings in her favour. ImleMd slie had had ample opportunities of learning how much faith to put in her husband's surmises. For a time therefore there was a pause in the con- versation between husband and wife, and it was not until the question about the Naydian grandchildren had been put directly that she deigned to give an answer. " I always thought it was natural for children to grow," she said with not a little impatience, even if it was Christmas Day. " Everybody's grandchihh-en grow." " Oh no, Isabel, if you please, not everybody's ; some poor children die in their infancy, you know. But Providence seems to have decreed, that under my keeping, ours should thrive — " " For the time being." " Oh Isabel, my dear, how daie yon say ihat ; Providence has never proved inconstant to me and mine." " Come, come, John, don't make a hypocrite of Pro- vidence ; I have heard, in my time, enough of this kind of thing. With vour supposititious wealth you 9 !'! ■k 'I if :iiM 130 MK. KAVDIAN'8 FAMILY CIIXLE. pamper your gruiidchildron, juid Llicii Lliruw the re- sponsibility on Providence, as it rrovideneo ever smiled on indirect metliods. Come, come, if you want to be pleasant on Christmas Day be honest as well. You know you are dealiujjj unt'aiily hy your -grandchildren. By and bye, llieir experience will be nothing but a huni^er and a burst. It is all well enough for them as long as you have money to ^ive them ; but what is to become of them, when the day of seeming plenty is past, is more than any omi can tell." " Still on the same string, Isabel V "Yes, still on the same string ; yet w'nat is the use of my saying a single word ? Do you see that picture of l*resbyterian di^'ines up there ?" Mr. Naydian looketl at the picture and then at his wife, wondering what was coming. " You see it ?" " Of course, I do." " Well, then, when 1 talk to you about matters such as this, I sometimes seem to be acting with as little hope of producing a salutary effect as if I were pleading with these gentlemen to revise their Confession of Faith. Indeed, your attitude !/>wards nie, while I make a sug- gestion now and again for yuur benelil, is much the same as if these reverend gentlemen were to rise in a body and put their fingers to their — well, were to make grimaces at me. It's too bad, John, you really sometimes ought to listen to reason." Mr. Naydian had weathered many a storm of this kind, and did not seem to be very much distressed over his wife's rising temper. " People, you know, do no MR. NAVDFANS KAMFLY CIRCLE. 131 X like to have their confession of faith tampered witii,* he said very quietly. " Xot even when it is oi.e of extravaLjance ?" ** No, not even then ; for to attempt to reform the evil in a man is a much more ollensive operation than to remodel the <,'ood. lUit we are ^^ettiuL? a little too I'ar away from ourselves, I'm afraid. Wiiat do you want me to do ? What have I done to otfeiid you ? I must con- fess to you that some of my <^randchildrcn are really getting a little extrava^iant in their notions." " They are not only getting extravagant, hut are im- provident !" exclaimed Mrs. Xaydian. " And who is to blame for it all, I would like to know .?" " Well, I suppose I have to share the blame," replied the seeming hen-pecked husband, though the mock- meekness with which he uttered the words was (iuough to arouse the most patient of wives. " Then why do you coutiuue to encourage them in their improvidence ?" " Because I like to see them happy." " Xonsense, sir ; you like to be popular with them, that's the secret of your liberality." " Well, suppose it is ; what then?" . '* You will ruin both v " Then what do you really think is the prospect be- fore the firm ?" m iil ^ 1 1 L I 134 MR. NAYDIAN'S family CIRCLE. " My desire is to remain as we are." ** But your father may wish it otherwise." " Then let him say so." " But hasn't he been saying so ?" " I liave not heard a complaint from him for many a day. He certainly did think that we were rather a burden on him at one time, but that day has gone by. He seems to be rather proud of our progress now." " But didn't you tell us at the dinner-table that you had received a letter from an aristocratic friend of yours, urging you to — " *'0h! that's the grand consolidation move nt you mean," and Mr. Naydian laughed all over. " Well, well, there are some idiots in this world, whose great aim and object in life is to have themselves spoken of. Did you ever hear of such a ridiculous project all your days, Isabel? Just think of any one trying to repeat the experiment which gave rise to so much enmity be- tween my brother over the line and my father. Why, even to the present day, these tea transactions between them have never been forgotten or forgiven.'' " Then what is it all about, John ?" But Mr. ^aydian had to reply that it was beyond his power to answer such a question. "The fact is, these peculiar people — for I have no right to call them idiots — the word isn't parliamentary, and I must not let them ou-tdo me in courtesy, for extremely courteous, and loyal, and complacent they profess to be — indeed, tlieir own gentlemanly behaviour in advocating the move- ment seems to be the only argument they have in its favour — T say these peculiar people do not know very weli themselves what it is all about, Isabel." ^ . r I MR. NAYDTAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. 135 " But what do they propose ?" asked Mrs. Naydian. " They propose to go back on history ever so many years in order to prove that the ways of Providence are anything but perfect ways. They want to show that the quarrel between father and Jonathan was all a mis- take." " And wasn't it ?" "Yes, just in the sense that everything that has happened may or may not have been a mistake, accord- ing to our way of thinking. Yet bring together the same causes, and the same effects are bound to come, whether you call them mistakes or not. Place the old man in the same relationship to our firm as existed be- tween him and Jonathan, and the same shindy would inevitably arise between us ; and you know it would be rather disagreeable for us to show the old man the door nftPT all he lias done ftn- us.'' " Surely that is not their intention," said Mrs. Nay- dian, anxious to know more about the scheme, late though it was. " No, not exactly, lor they have decided that the force of adhesion is stronger thau the force of cohesion in fab- ricatinG: firms ; and so ihox want to bind all the families of the earth — at l(^,asl what some of my countrymen call in fun all tlie ' wliite firms' of the earth — into one grand panjandrum, for the purposes of trade." " I see you are dottnniitiod not to be definite enough for a poor ignorant woman to understand you. So we had better wait for some more fitting opportunity to hear all about it," and in saying this Mrs. Naydiaa rose to leave the room. , il ' In " -■'if ill "I 13G MR. NAYDIAN's family CIRCLt. " But you don't know how indefinite the great con- solidationists are. You don't understand me, but they don't understand themselves." " But they make some explanations, surely.'' '* Oh yes, they say they are loyal to the old man." " But that's no explanation of their scheme." " Then they say that the old man is the richest man in the whole world, and would give us all that we want if we only joined him in the panjandrum with the other ' white firms,' though they surely must know that I have never complained about any stinginess on the part of the old man towards us so far. We have had from him all the backing we want." " Ay, and perhaps, a little more than has been good for you and the boys. But what else do they propose ?" " Well, they want this panjandrum of theirs to be the greatest show on earth, that is, the greatest firm that ever was known." " Yes, an^ thing else ?" " They say that they are loyal." " You told me that alreadv." " Oh that's nothin", the "reat consolidationists are al- ways saying it." "Well?" ' • " And they maintain that they are all respectable people." •' Yes ?" " And that Sir George Petry thinks it the right thing to do." "Yes?" " And that Lord Lovelace is a long-lieaded fellow." " And that Mr. Jones is a goose, and a run-the-gate.'* MR. NAVDIAN's family CIRCLE. 137 • \ ''And that Mr. Lustre is disloyal to us, aud has al- "^ -■ ways been." - " And that the Hon. Mr. Holdforth is the ^hrewdest of men." "And that I am a great fool if I do not go in for the thing." It was impossible for Mrs. Naydian to resist the drol- ■'• / lery of her husband. She had actually to resume her / "j ; seat in her agony of laughter over the manner in which ;^ her liusband told her all this. Of course he had to join , with her, and soon the two of them were looking as ', , liappy in each other's company as if they never had - / experienced anything but the most lover-like thoughts towards each other. • - "But what has all that to do with the consolidation • - scheme ?" she asked at lenuth. " Oh, everything of cour.se, the loyal fellows and the respectable fellows, and the noble fellows, and the long- headed fellows, are all for us to join ; whereas the geese and the ganders and the disloyal folks are all on the other side; so you see, madam, your husband for once is really a goose." ■^ " He's been a goose more than onc3," said Mrs. Nay- dian, still laughing, and enjoying her husband's strange humour. " But what else do they advance in favour of their scheme ?" "Well, they say that if we would only strengthen the old man's bauds, he would be more inclined to pay Jonathan in his own coin when Jonathan gets saucy." " A fine Christian principle !" " Yes, you may well say so." " And they say further that all the ' white firms ' of ^ mmm 138 MR. NAYDIAN'S FAMILY CIRCLE. the earth would trade vvitli one another directly, were the panjamdrum to be consolidated." " But not with Jonathan ?" " Oh, no ; not with Jonathan — that is, unless — " "Unless what ?" "Unless Jonathan should repent of his former sins in sackcloth and in ashes, and seek, like the prodigal son, to come back to his father's bosom. Isn't it fun to think t " nch a conjuncture of events ? Aren't they a parce. ^vell, no, I mustn't use that word towards them, for they are all respectable people, and employ parljame: 'ary ' -iguage so far ; at least so they say." * But seriously, John, what do you really think of the scheme ; for we must be going, if we want to get up in time to-morrow morning," and Mrs. Naydian again rose to leave the room. " I think," was her husband's answer, " tliat never did mortal brain hatch such a Utopian project. Why, there's nothing tangible about the whole thing. When any one makes a suggestion of this kind, it is generally done by way of providing a remedy. They say we can- not remain as we are ; and when I ask them why not, they cannot for tlieir lives answer me. They say we are only in a transition slate ; and I ask them if being in a transition state towards becoming completely our own masters is worse than beinsjin a transition state towards being somebody's dependants. Of course they say we are dependants as it is ; and so we are, but as long as we do not feel that we are dependanr^s or servants, they are welcome to make whatever use of the mere name they like." MR. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. 139 /■.' *v- " And what does your father think about the scheme ?" " Oh, they make out that lie is quite indifferent so far." " But isn't that strange ?" " Why, that's where the fun comes in ; they say that we out here must make our appe;il to him if we want any such change." . " Then who has inaugurated the movement ?" "T have told you — a few qitldnuncn with titles to their names." " And what has induced it ?" " Nothing that 1 know of, except, as I have already said, a love for fame on the part of those who advocate it?'' " And what say the other ' white firms,' as you call them?" "They have yet to be moved; an emissary has just gone forth among them to preach the new gospel to them." " But suppose something should come out of it ? " •' My deal', that is hardly possible. We have all too much to do in looking' after our own affairs, to seek for new troubles. You know how difficult it is for me to keep the boys in order, and we are but a small affair to what the panjandrum would be. The other " white firms," I am told, have also their hands full, and one of them particularly could not possibly take part in the movement. Besides, the old man has a serious proble m of his own to work out at home before he caii enter into any new combinations; and thus, in my opinion, the great consolidatioasts are a long way from success. But I I is fli |i St 140 MR. NAYDIAN's family CIRCLE. even suppose, as you say, that anything came of it. Suppose that the great panjandrum were realised. Sup- pose that all the ends of the earth, were to have one counting-house in common — all of course save Jonathan — what then ? How long would such a huge organization last ? We have only to search history for an answer. Would there be no jealousies ? Would there be no sus- picions of unfair dealing ? Would there be no remon- strances, no grievances unredressed, no quarrelings ? Has the age of sweetness and light yet come to do away witli the possibilities of sucli things as these ? 1 trow' not. The thing would probably hang together for a time as a novelty. But at last there would arise ditl'erences of opinion. Diverse interests would come into conflict. Estrangement would unsue. The strife over tea trans- actions might not be repeated in our case ; but there would come at last disintegration, separation, and a look- ing over the left shoulder at one another. Would we be better without the old man's backing ? Would we be able to jog along by ourselves for any length of time ? From whom could we borrow then ? Who would help us to bear the burden of our mortgages ? 1 am afraid, Mrs. Naydian, you would then have your wish. The day of extravagances would be gone. No more fine Christmas parties, no more bonuses, no more presents. And would you be any the happier, anything more contented? Perhaps you might, eh, Isabel? Perhaps you would rejoice at being so near Nirvana, at being so near your brother-in-law's door as a poor relation — ready to be taken in and done for — glad to welcome the delights of final absorption." r ,1' MH. NAYDIAN S FAMIf.Y CIRCLE. Ul " But I have preached and prosed more tliari is enough to-day," he said at last. " Perhaps I may have an opportunity of continuing the discussion witli the boys in the morning before tliey go. If I have convinced you, I trust you will use your intluence with them to turn a deaf ear to these syren-songsters, the great consolidationists. They are no true friends of ours, and we ought to turn our backs upon all of them. But come, madam, it is high time we closi^d tliese eyes of ours which have witnessed such a pleasant Christmas- tide." ; < if * Next morning, as was to be expected, the breakfast was a late one. Few of the guests had to leave for home before noon ; and so Mr. Naydian had an oppor- tunity of taking his sons by themselves into the sancfvjii to consult on sundry business matters. Of course there was no lack of subjects to discuss, as there never was, when any of the Naydian family met. As Mr. Nay- dian had often said, nearly all his boys were good talkers ; and therefore Ijoth before and after breakfast there was a stir in nearly every room. The most important camus^ however, was held in the sanctum, with Mr. Naydian in attendance upon his sons and his wife. For a time aftairs wore a serious aspect ; but by and bye, Mr. Naydian succeeded in asserting him- self in one ot his vivacious humours. He plied his boys with the arguments he had advanced to their mother the night before. He showed them where their true in- terests lay. If he was extravagant that was easily -i- 142 MR. NAYDIAN'S FA MIL''' CIRCLE. enough remedie'l. Pie had his faults as other fathers had, but he was willing enough to meet any of his sons half-way in redressing tlie grievances wliioh might crop up in the adniinistration of the iirm in its relationship with tlie various branches. The closer trade alliance which had been spoken of, was a thing to be desired for, if it was only able to be accomplished. Final absor])- tion might be a Nirvana, but it was no heaven for a Christian firm that had faith in its own permanence. It was a little too soon for them to tliink of throwing off' a yoke that was anything but irksome ; a yoke that was to them really a blessing in disguise ; and it would be simply folly for them to listen to those foolish people who were anxious to see that yoke more than a yoke merely in name. " What then remains for us, my boys, is to have faith in one another," said he in his words of parting. " We have no need for any radical change in our manner of conducting business. We feel that our destiny as a tirui is assured to us, as long as we are faithful to our trust. Progress is a tale that never reads backwards ; and we of John M. Naydian and Co. do not propose to write our history in such a way that merely those who read tha book of fate upside down may be gratified," and when he was done his sous felt that the old man was right after all. * * * * * * ^ MK. NAYDIAN S FAMILY CIRCLE. 143 I *•**"' And by and bye there came the leave-takings. Jack and Oliver, with their families, the first to come, were the first to go. Kveryb(3dy looked kind of sad, but none were evidently unhappy. " My dear, be sure tliat you look well after that hus- band of yours," said Mr. Naydian to Mrs. Oliver, as he saw hei" safe to the sleigh. " He's a good fellow at heart but tricky a little. Good-by, Oliver ; no ofience of course intended. Oh yes, you will have to kiss your mother last of all ; the two of von are well worth watch- ing. (v'onie, get in there in the front with your wife, and leave my wife alone. That's right my boys, pack in the best way you can. There's room for you here Otta Oh, yes, I will see that your work-bo.x is care- fully handled ; and you, King, will hear from me too ; in fact, none of you will have any reason to forget your old grandfather." " Not ^wen my wife, father," shouted Oliver. " Well perhaps not even her," was the answer, accom- panied with a twinkle ot tiie old man's eye that spoke as cunningly as a wink. "There you go, good-bye to all of you." And this running farewell the old man repeated with every party as they departed, ai'd yet no one could pos- sibly get tired at ihc repetition, so happy did he seem. He was especially solicitous about the comfort of Mrs. Jack, when her turn canje to take her place in her hus- band's sleigh. " I shall certaiidy write to you, my dear," said he, as he tucked in the robes about her ; " and to you, too Queen: I shall leave, of course, the final decision about <\ 144 MR. NAYDIANS FA^fILY CIRCLK. your ring to your grandmotlier, but I think you may consider the matter settled. Yes, Monty, I'll not forget t4^ take it ad avizawhmi, as the judge says, and you will have your villa, if nobodj^. makes a fuss about it. Cxood- bye, Jack ; sure you liave your cheque safe ? Of .se you have. Well, tlien, good-bye to all of you." Then started Xeil, and Norton, and Print-e, all three with theii' families huddled promiscuously in as many rdoi;4h.s that \vcr(^, to take them to tjut railway .station that lay to the eastward. And last of all Matt and Bertie went off with their families towards the railway station that lav to the westward. " JJon't be alarmed, Winnie," were Mr. Kaydian's parting words to Matt's daughter. " You shall have your new carriage if your grandmother will allov ^ to give it, and possibly whether or no So goodb^*., and s^^e that you behave yourself. Good-bye, my dear Matt ; your good lady, I'm thinking, will ke^p you in order; won't you, my dear Mrs. Matt.-* Good-l)ye to all of you." ^ '' And thus came to an end Mr. Naydian's Christmas Party. THE END. I