“The servants whispered till the matter was noised abroad. The county gentry had a meeting about it, and felt so strongly that they did an unparalleled thing. They actually waited on him to assure him that Potts was unworthy of trust, and to urge him not to treat his son so harshly. All Brandon’s pride was roused at this. He said words to the deputation which cut him off forever from their sympathy, and they left in a rage. Mrs. Brandon wrote to me, and I went there. I found Brandon inflexible. I urged him to give his son a longer time, to send him to the army for a while, to do any thing rather than eject him. He refused to change his sentence. Then I pointed out the character of Potts, and told him many things that I had heard. At this he hinted that I wished to have the management of his business, and was actuated by mercenary motive. Of course, after this insult, nothing more was to be said. I went home and tried to forget all about the Brandons. At the end of the week Louis refused to apologize, and left his father forever.” “Did you see Louis?” “I saw him before that insult to ask if he would apologize.” “Did you try to make him apologize?” asked Mrs. Thornton, coldly. “Yes. But he looked at me with such an air that I had to apologize myself for hinting at such a thing. He was as inflexible as his father.” “How else could he have been?” “Well, each might have yielded a little. It does not do to be so inflexible if one would succeed in life.” “No,” said Mrs. Thornton. “Success must be gained by flexibility. The martyrs were all inflexible, and they were all unsuccessful.” Thornton looked at his wife hastily. Despard’s hand trembled, and his face grew paler still with a more livid pallor. “Did you try to do any thing for the ruined son?” “How could I, after that insult?” “Could you not have got him a government office, or purchased a commission for him in the army?” “He would not have taken it from me.” “You could have co-operated with his mother, and done it in her name.” “I could not enter the house after being insulted.” “You could have written. From what I have heard of Brandon, he was just the man who would have blessed any one who would interpose to save his son.” “His son did not wish to be saved. He has all his father’s inflexibility, but an intellect as clear as that of the most practical man. He has a will of iron, dauntless resolution, and an implacable temper. At the same time he has the open generosity and the tender heart of his father.” “Had his father a tender heart?” “So tender and affectionate that this sacrifice of his son must have overwhelmed him with the deepest sorrow.” “Did you ever after make any advances to any of them?” “No, never. I never went near the house.” “Did you ever visit any of the county gentry to see if something could be done?”