and the fact of having to walk (though | days) he saw to his horror that the the distance was nothing, and exercise brick was broken in two. It had had a almost a necessity to a man of his pre- hard life, and a time comes to everyvious habits) always annoyed him in- body and everything when they need tensely. He was indeed generally so care; unfortunately this is too often cross at having to go a-foot, that Mrs. the period when care and attention Neri seldom allowed herself to take are withdrawn. Feeling as if he had what she called carriage-exercise, pre- committed the unpardonable sin, Neri ferring, as she was too stout to walk, hastily stooped down, and taking up to stay at home rather than meet her the two fragments carefully, and with husband's sour looks on her return. looks than which nothing could have She had done her best to adapt herself conveyed a more abject apology, fitted to her new honors, and not all unsuc- them together again. Not only did he cessfully. She sat with folded hands feel mean, but he was afraid. Happy in her drawing-room (not even allow- the man who has never felt that he ing herself to darn stockings, an art at would give everything he is possessed which she was an adept) when she of to recall the act done so thoughtwould greatly have preferred being lessly, even so gaily perhaps, a minute useful in the kitchen. Even when she ago. It was a summer evening, and rode in the new carriage she was in her the unfortunate man was aware of two inmost soul longing for the old donkey- holes in the surface of the upper por cart in which she had been accustomed tion of the brick which he had never to take out the washing, even though noticed before. These to his distorted her beloved Neri should be lying in faucy took the shape of angry and wait for her return (as in old days had malignant eyes. The brick remained been his unvarying custom) to relieve upright when he replaced it in its old her of the fruits of her toil. position, but the fracture took the form of a mouth whose lips wore an expression of angry derision. Neri took a long and piteous survey of it, as we survey the irrevocable past; and then, not seeing that he could mend matters, walked home.

Neri, as we have said, was in a bad temper, and on reaching the gate leading to his mansion his ill-humor was aggravated by finding it left open. A few years ago it would have mattered little if any stray horses or cattle had taken a fancy to trespass on the rushy pasture that surrounded the Dovecote; but to do so now was to invoke the utmost rigor of the law. The gate was of course propped on its familiar brick, and Neri for the first time in his life was conscious of feeling irritated at the appearance of his humble friend. There comes a day when the broadcloth of our new-born grandeur revolts from the honest and long-discarded corduroy. "Ain't hardly good enough," Neri found himself muttering. stead of removing the brick with his usual care, he kicked it from under the gate with all his might. The gate swung smoothly away from its unstable support, but as soon as he had recovered from the feeling of having broken his foot into twenty pieces (for he had forgotten that his boots were less adapted for these freaks than in old

In

Arrived there it was speedily evident to the inmates that something had gone wrong. Neri had indeed the feeling, which many people have yet survived to laugh at, that the great misfortune of his life was impending; above all he was conscious of having endangered the happiness of his wife and daughter by his fit of petulant anger. His dinner was left untouched, and even the generally successful attempts of his daughter to restore his good temper were unavailing. Caddie was herself in capital spirits. Within the last few days she had engaged herself to a young man whose family, though not very wealthy, had been respectable for quite a generation, and this meant a step up the social ladder. In conse quence she was a little inclined to give herself airs, which her father, so limited was his experience, considered

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In fact the groom (a new servant) had discovered earlier in the morning that the plague of his life had disap"The dashed old brick!" he

66

something better! The fool doesn't know what he's talking about." Even the stolid groom was surprised at the anger he had unintentionally evoked. "Storm in a blessed teacup," he muttered.

playful and engaging. They were in- | necessarily fatal to the oldest and most deed of a quality a shade more artistic friendly alliance. than those with which Mrs. Neri had captivated his youthful and not very fastidious fancy; but to-day he was thinking them affected and even vulpeared. Fgar. If Neri ate nothing he made up exclaimed, as he rubbed his hands toby drinking more than usual, and far gether with glee. 'By gum, Mr. Neri, more (as Mrs. Neri remarked to Cad- you'll now have to get something betdie, as they waited in fear and trem- ter." Arrived within a few yards of bling in the drawing-room), than was the gate he checked his horse, and good for him. When at last his wife handing the reins to his master jumped I went in to see him, she was moved by down and held it open while Neri a new-born humility which sat ill upon drove through. "Needn't have taken him. Her indirect attempts to obtain it so spiteful," the latter was thinking, a hint of what ailed him were unsuc-"it might surely have known as I cessful, or she would have disturbed didn't mean nothing." "Brick's been him yet more by laughing at his fears. sneaked, sir," said the groom as he At last he went to bed, but not before climbed back into his seat. "A good he had been caught in the act of un- thing it's gone; it wanted something bolting the front door, hat in hand. | better to hold." His master glared on He desisted as soon as he heard the him with a look of concentrated fury: voice of his wife, who had been on the "Something better !" he thought, lookout-"My! Neri, where ever are you a-going to ?' - and re-fastening the door he went up-stairs, taking his hat with him. It was evident he had intended to go out, but whither? In bed Mrs. Neri, who pretended to be asleep, was soon aware that Neri was Arrived at the Works, Neri was met also pretending. Once she heard a by his manager, with a face as long as groan. "What ails the man?" she his own. "Bad news this morning, thought, but she said nothing, and sir, I'm sorry to say." "I knew it," towards morning he fell into an uneasy returned Neri absently. "Beg your slumber. In his troubled sleep the pardon, sir, but have you heard anybrick, personified in the daytime, be- thing ?" "Oh! nothing, Mr. Singlecame even more human. He started ton; please go on. Bad news, I think from his dream, shuddering at the ma- you said? Well, I suppose (with a levolent expression on his old friend's swagger which he felt to be a contempface. "I'll be unlucky," he mur-tible pretence) "we can stand a bit or mured, as he turned over in a cold two of bad news." "No doubt, sir, sweat, "and serve me right; Mr. but Corbet and Skinner have failed in Neri, you're done for!" New York. It was too late to stop the Next morning he started for the last consignments. I'm at my wits' Works, feeling dull and depressed. It ends to know what to do. I'm afraid was absurd, he was sagacious enough from what this says" (and he laid his to be aware, but how could he help it? | hand on a paper which he had placed Unhappy people are perhaps not suffi- ou Neri's desk) "that it means a reguciently grateful for the fact that their lar smash-up, and what that will cost experience prepares them for even the us you know as well as I do." most unexpected calamities. When knew it," Neri repeated like a man in the carriage arrived at the gate Neri a dream, to his manager's astonishfelt but little astonishment at perceiv-ment. Then he hastily cast up in his ing that the brick was gone; there are head the amount for which the Ameriinsults, he acknowledged, which are can failure would let him in. "By VOL. VII. 342

LIVING AGE.

gum," he said aloud at last, going back | selves by afternoon post." Then Neri to a long discarded, but once favorite knew that there was yet another adjuration, "it's ten thousand if it's trouble to face, and permitted her, a penny!" To himself he said, "It means going back." He thought over all the people he had known who had overbuilt themselves, and had to go back; of these he had always assured himself he would not make one.

though without feeling much interest, to tell her story. It seems Caddie had quarrelled two or three days ago with her young man, and quarrels, the Eton Latin Grammar notwithstanding, are not always renewals of love. In the The long day passed in verifying present instance the reverse had been losses and accounts, and overlooking the case, and young Tom Braithwaite with the least possible interest the had written to say that, as it appeared work which must still be carried on they were unable to get on together, though unlikely to be any longer re- the engagement had better be off. munerative. The carriage arrived at Poor Caddie of course was the more the usual hour, and when work was distressed, as she was aware that the over he went home. During the day rupture was entirely caused by her the groom had not been idle. Being own ill-temper. "It is her fault, I a handy man, he had spent his spare fear," said poor Mrs. Neri. "She has time in fixing a catch which he flattered too much of your temper, and himself would at least be preferable to "Stop, woman!" cried Neri, taking the lost brick; but he was much disap-up his brushes again with trembling pointed, and not a little surprised, at hands. "What do I care about your the effect of his work on his employer. marryings and givings in marriage? I "What's this?" roared Neri, putting shall have to close the Works; Corbet his hand roughly on the reins, and and Skinner have failed. Temper! bringing the horse on his haunches. Yes; I've my infernal temper to thank, "Who told you to put up this d-d and if Caddie has it too, it's all in the thing?" Then descending far more family." "The tongue is a little memrapidly than was his wont, "Go home," ber, truly, Neri," his wife commenced, he screamed, "go home!" As soon "but as the carriage was out of sight round the first turn, Neri set to work to pull up the new fixture. It was anything but an easy task, but he succeeded at last. All at once it yielded to his frantic efforts, and he fell on his back with his feet in the air, holding the trophy in his clenched hands; when he recovered himself he threw it away with an oath among the bushes.

"Queer old fish," said the groom, as he drove home. "Mean as dirt, too; vexed about them brick ends."

While Neri was making a hasty toilette, his wife, who had seen the carriage come home without him, came into his dressing-room. "O Neri, how can I tell you!" she burst forth. "What's the matter, woman?" he roared, laying down his hair-brushes. "Do you suppose I haven't heard enough about it? Let it rest." "How can you have heard about it, Neri ?" she replied. "We only knew it our

"A little member!" said Neri, protruding an enormous foot, and examining it with some attention. "A little member! Serves me right, serves me right.' "He's off his head with trouble," said the good woman to herself, "and no wonder; him as has had no troubles for so long!" "Neri, my love, be calm. entreat you

Theu aloud, Neri, let me "Entreat be d-d!" "Go away,

shouted Neri coarsely.
woman, go away."

How the next few days passed Neri could not have told; he went to and fro between the Works, but scarcely spoke a word. There was a way through the shrubbery and across the fields which had been unused since he had set up his carriage, and by this he now made his journeys; the sight of the gate would, he felt, have been too much for him. He had heard nothing more from America, and indeed expected nothing but corroboration of the first reports; and for this he had so far

prepared that some of his workmen | latter came forward beaming, and made were already under notice to quit. He as if he would almost have shaken had no doubt that his agent's failure hands with his employer. "I am would cripple him for years, even if it happy to tell you, sir," he said, followdid no more. He had not even the ing his master with beaming face into comforting knowledge that he was not his private room, "that the scare about himself to blame for his misfortunes. Corbet and Skinner turns out to be "I am a fool," he was always think- immensely exaggerated. There was a ing, an ungrateful fool. I've chucked little trouble, but, as you will see by away my luck." The worm had turned this letter" (placing one on Neri's with a vengeance; and than this turn- desk), "they seem already to have quite ing nothing can possibly make a bully recovered." The manager stopped feel more mean or more foolish. speaking, and glanced at Neri, expecting to see him throw his hat into the air, or show his delight in some other way, but the face of the manufacturer expressed but little surprise. "I thought it 'ud all come right," he said coolly, and rather to his manager's disgust, who muttered under his breath,

haved as if you thought so." However, affectation of that sort was in so great a man excusable if not unavoidable.

In after days Neri's reputation gained greatly by the report of the cool way in which he received the information that the ruin he had accepted was averted : "A cool hand, that Mr. Neri; nerves like iron; never don't turn a hair for nothing."

One morning Mrs. Neri, much against her wish, was obliged to make a short journey; and seeing the carriage at the door, Neri, more from habit than intention, got in and took his seat beside his wife, telling her she could put him down at the Works. Hardly had the carriage started before" Then I wish to goodness you'd behe remembered; but it was too late to get out now, though he murmured something about "going by the fields." As they approached the drive-gate, he began to turn away his head. No, he could not turn it away; he must look, though with a pretence of not looking. But what was it he saw? He rubbed his eyes and looked again. The brick had returned ! "Stop!" he called out to the groom As Neri walked home (for the last who was as much surprised as his time, as he hoped), across the fields, master, thinking, "The durned old his heart felt quite soft. "I've had a brick again; some fool's brought un narrow shave," he said to himself, back, same as took it away, I s'pose."|"but I'll mind my temper better in "Thank the Lord!" ejaculated Neri future. By gum! it would almost have fervently, as after a brief pause the served me right, but I'm let off for this carriage drove on. "Give us a kiss, old time;" and he laughed, rubbing his woman, ," he went on, and taking his huge hands together in his glee. portly better half in his arms, he kissed he entered his own grounds he was her loudly then and there. Things'll aware of his daughter, who seemed, come round all right, ducky," he whis- however, to wish to avoid him. pered. Don't you fret no more. I'm Caddie," he thought; no wonder she as jolly as a sand-boy." The groom's don't want to meet such a bear as I've first words when he got home were been lately ;" and he actually, for once "If the gov'nor ain't cracked, I'll eat in his life, felt ashamed to have been him. A-kissin' the missus down yon- so completely engrossed with his own der by the gate, as if he hadn't never troubles. Caddie might have been seen her afore ! And blamed if the aware of his self-reproaches, for she old brick ain't turned up again.” approached shyly and, to her father's surprise, with a smile on her lips. "She's trying to carry it off so as not to worry me," he thought, rebuking himself again for his selfishness. When

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When Neri arrived rather late at the Works, with a weight lifted off his heart, his joyful looks were once more reflected on the manager's face. The

As

"" Poor

which the transport that swept over his heart at that moment was, however, akin. He would have liked to ask a blessing; but had he not got one with out asking? His good fortune, he gratefully felt, was secure; the brick could take care of itself and of him. His heart was, after all, not without the affection which, as one of our great poets has taught us, is an aid to prayer, if not a substitute for it:

she got nearer he felt inclined to think | in the place of the higher emotion, to she had heard the good news which he hoped to have been the first to tell her. Yet no; as he marked the rosy blush that suffused her homely but pleasant face, Caddie's eyes had no thought of business in them. "Daddy," she said, "I have good news. Tom and I have made it up again. It was all my fault; that nasty temper! I've vowed not to give way to it any more." It was as if the girl had said, "Rejoice with me, for I have found a treasure that I had lost."

And Neri rejoiced. "What a goose I am," he thought, as he passed his rough hand across his eyes. "It's and from these great and small things a droll thing, my dear," he said, "but there was no reason, that Neri could I've just been and made the same vow. see, why his brick should be excluded. We'll see who can keep it best," and It was characteristic of the man that he he looked down bashfully at his enornever inquired, and indeed would have mous boot, the foot inside which had been shocked at the idea of inquiring, scarcely yet recovered from its injuries. by what agency his talisman was reThat evening there was truer happi- moved, and by what brought back at ness at the Dovecote than for many this crisis of his fortunes. It is not days, if ever before. When Mrs. Neri's certain that he did not believe the heart had been made glad with the brick had taken itself away; and it is knowledge of the relief which had extremely fortunate for the self-respect come to her husband, it somehow did of superstitious people that their nature not seem strange that he should stroll does not lead them to consider their down the drive towards the gate. He superstitions too curiously. But before walked as if on air, and with what dif- we laugh at Neri, we should remember ferent feelings from those of the other that an unreasoning faith, which reday! He had brought it all on him- fuses to hear any evidence or argument self, he knew; he had deserved all his against its favorite doctrine, was until trouble and anxiety, and he had been recently considered a desirable quality. mercifully forgiven! If only he could Even now there are those who can see somehow show that he was not un- very little difference between unbelief grateful; "Not such a brute as it and inquiry. thinks me," he put it to himself. It was almost dark as he approached the spot where the outline of the brick was just visible, crouching, like a vast toad, in its old position by the border; but, by the light of the match which he lost no time in striking, he could see that the malicious and evil expression had passed away, and was replaced by a smile of sarcastic good humor. Carefully lifting the two fragments from the ground he raised them to his lips, and imprinted on them a more fervent kiss than he had ever bestowed on human being.

Neri had never, as we have said, been religious. Superstition had stood

Neri is a great man now, and this episode occurred years ago. Those who pass his house will still, we trust, see the brick in its old position; and should they in their ignorance feel some surprise at its inappropriateness, Neri will be quite content to let them wonder.

From Blackwood's Magazine. OUR LAST WAR WITH THE MAHSUDS.

THE Durand Mission of November, 1893, proclaimed urbi et orbi the reconciliation of viceroy and ameer of the governments of India and Afghanistan.