But she was so young, so innocent, he said to himself. What could she possibly know of the real character of a man like Otho Askam, or of the sinister and compromising nature of any attentions from him? Patience, patience! he preached to himself, and it would all come right. When she was married to him, and he could speak plainly to her, soul to soul, there would be no more of these misunderstandings, these clouds and disputes. She would be innocent still, but not ignorant any more. And, perhaps, so far as he was himself concerned, it was better for his soul’s health to be free from all connection with a man like Askam. Thus he reflected, as he took his homeward way, and on arriving at the Red Gables, found the rooms dark, and Michael still absent. About half-past ten he arrived, and found Roger alone, in an easy-chair by the fireside. ‘Halloa! Back again!’ exclaimed Michael. ‘Ay!’ ‘You took her away altogether, did you?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Quite right, too. Brutes like him want showing that they can’t ride rough-shod over every one and everything.’ ‘Michael, do you think he is a little cracked?’ ‘Not a particle, unless being born bad, and a bully, is being cracked. It is a somewhat debatable question, you know, now. We are so very liberal and tolerant in these days. It seems to be the theory that if by chance you behave decently, you ought at once to have a statue put up to you; whereas, if you conduct yourself like a savage, or a blackleg, or as if you had been brought up amongst professional thieves, and the lowest riff-raff, the thing is, that you are not quite all there, poor fellow!—that’s all, and ought not to be considered accountable for your actions. It’s not a view that I ever took, and I say that Otho Askam is no more mad than you are at this moment. He’s vicious, and he’s a bully. And I suppose that Miss Wynter had crossed him in some way, and he wanted to punish her publicly. That’s about the tune of it.’ ‘Bullies are usually cowards,’ observed Roger, reflectively. ‘And so is he. Wait till the time comes when the shoe begins to pinch,—when his sins come back to him, and demand house-room with him, and bring their children by the hand, and when he has made such a hole in his estate that even his guardian angel can’t stave off the remarks of creditors; then you’ll see where his brag ends.’ ‘Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to look on at such a moment,’ said Roger, speaking out of the pride and the blindness of his heart. ‘To-morrow he will have to whistle to the tune of my saying good-bye to him, and leaving him to his own resources. I’m not a “gentleman born,” like he is——’ ‘Now come, Roger. You’ll be saying next that all “gentlemen born” are like Otho Askam, and all “working men,” as you are pleased to call yourself, are just like you—on the same level, and with the same feelings. Keep within bounds.’