His father answered with less surprise than Halleck had evidently expected, for he had thrown out his words with a sort of defiance; probably the old man had watched him closely enough to surmise that it might come to this with him at last. At any rate, he was able to say, without seeming to assent too readily, “Well, well, give up the law, then, and come back into leather, as you call it. Or take up something else. We don't wish to make anything a burden to you; but take up some useful work at home. There are plenty of things to be done.” “Not for me,” said Halleck, gloomily. “Oh, yes, there are,” said the old man. “I see you are not willing to have me go,” said Halleck, rising in uncontrollable irritation. “But I wish you wouldn't all take this tone with me!” “We haven't taken any tone with you, Ben,” said his mother, with pleading tenderness. “I think Anna has decidedly taken a tone,” said Olive. Anna did not retort, but “What tone?” demanded Louisa, in her behalf. “Hush, children,” said their mother. “Well, well,” suggested his father to Ben. “Think it over, think it over. There's no hurry.” “I've thought it over; there _is_ hurry,” retorted Halleck. “If I go, I must go at once.” His mother arrested her thread, half drawn through the seam, letting her hand drop, while she glanced at him. “It isn't so much a question of your giving up the law, Ben, as of your giving up your family and going so far away from us all,” said his father. “That's what I shouldn't like.” “I don't like that, either. But I can't help it.” He added, “Of course, mother, I shall not go without your full and free consent. You and father must settle it between you.” He fetched a quick, worried sigh as he put his hand on the door. “Ben isn't himself at all,” said Mrs. Halleck, with tears in her eyes, after he had left the room. “No,” said her husband. “He's restless. He'll get over this idea in a few days.” He urged this hope against his wife's despair, and argued himself into low spirits. “I don't believe but what it _would_ be the best thing for his health, may be,” said Mrs. Halleck, at the end. “I've always had my doubts whether he would ever come to anything in the law,” said the father. The elder sisters discussed Halleck's project apart between themselves, as their wont was with any family interest, and they bent over a map of South America, so as to hide what they were doing from their mother. Olive had left the room by another door, and she intercepted Halleck before he reached his own. “What is the matter, Ben?” she whispered. “Nothing,” he answered, coldly. But he added, “Come in, Olive.” She followed him, and hovered near after he turned up the gas. “I can't stand it here, I must go,” he said, turning a dull, weary look upon her. “Who was at the Elm House that you knew this last time?” she asked, quickly. “Laura Dixmore isn't driving me away, if you mean that,” replied Halleck.