THE FATTED CALF. 



" There 's many a slip 'twixt the two mugs ! " 



— (yHoolihan's Proverbs. 



" Not by any means," said the Girl. " On the 

 other hand, you are very vividly remembered ! " 



"And by what?" 



" By lots of things — glorious things, too — but 

 I hardly think you're proud of them now ! " 



" Oh ! I don't know." 



" I do, though," said a voice from across the 

 supper table. " He's as proud of them as ever he 

 was. Five years haven't changed him a particle. 

 He's just the same incorrigible young rascal he 

 was before he went away to sea ! " 



" Is that true ? " said the Girl. 



" I'm afraid it is," he laughed, " I'm truly 

 afraid it is ! Just ask the ' old man.' He'll tell 

 you. But " — the jolly prodigal turned to the 

 Girl at his side. He blushed as her eyes met his. 

 It was so long since he had talked to girls. He 

 felt like a tough, old right whale addressing a 

 little pink water-lily. 



" But," he made bold to ask, " what are the 

 ' glorious ' things you think I'm not proud of ? " 



