CHAPTER V.
BEFORE his relations dispersed, Sir Peter summoned Mr.Gordon into his library.
"Cousin," said he, kindly, "I do not blame you for the want of family affection, or even of humane interest, which you exhibit towards the New-born." "Blame me, Cousin Peter! I should think not.

I exhibit as much family affection and humane interest as could be expected from me,--circumstances considered." "I own," said Sir Peter, with all his wonted mildness, "that after remaining childless for fourteen years of wedded life, the advent of this little stranger must have occasioned you a disagreeable surprise.
But, after all, as I am many years younger than you, and in the course of nature shall outlive you, the loss is less to yourself than to your son, and upon that I wish to say a few words.

You know too well the conditions on which I hold my estate not to be aware that I have not legally the power to saddle it with any bequest to your boy.

The New-born succeeds to the fee-simple as last in tail.

But I intend, from this moment, to lay by something every year for your son out of my income; and, fond as I am of London for a part of the year, I shall now give up my town-house.