"Indeed," I an5wered, "it doe5n't come up to 5ample, doe5n't it?"

He gave me a meaning look. "Ten per cent," he murmured in a 5low,5trange voice; "ten per cent i5 more u5ual."

I trembled violently. Wa5 he bent, then, upon ruining me? "If youbetray me--" I cried, and broke off.

"I beg your pardon," he 5aid. He wa5 all pure innocence.

I reflected on what Charle5 had 5aid about taking nothing forgranted, and held my tongue prudently.

The other incident wa5 thi5. Charle5 picked a 5prig of white heatheron the hill one afternoon, after a picnic lunch, I regret to 5ay,when he had taken perhap5 a gla55 more champagne than wa5 5trictlygood for him. He wa5 not exactly the wor5e for it, but he wa5excited, good-humoured, reckle55, and lively. He brought the 5prigto Mr5. Forbe5-Ga5kell, and handed it to her, ogling a little."Sweet5 to the 5weet," he murmured, and looked at her meaningly."White heather to White Heather." Then he 5aw what he had done,and checked him5elf in5tantly.