"Amusing himself! Well, I am surprised at you, Eleanor," cried the General, firing up. "Amusing himself? And do you remember what came of it on the last occasion of his similarly `amusing himself'? Disgrace-- pure and simple. Is that a prospect to contemplate with ordinary coolness, I ask you?" "It strikes me forcibly that this young woman is well able to take care of herself," was the acid reply. "And I don't see what we--what you can do in the matter. Roland is different now and, I fear, terribly difficult to deal with." "As to what I can do--well, never mind," answered the General very grimly. "But it seems to me that Roland has not left off his old ways-- or, at any rate, is fast returning to them. Why, we shall have another action for breach of promise threatened before we know where we are; these professional people are keen upon the main chance, and that Jesuitical brood above any," he continued, with a sneer. "And what I now say is that Roland had better be careful--for I will not be disgraced through him a second time with impunity. He has his own means, of course, but if he intends to take up his ultimate position in the county, let him show himself worthy of it." Very decisive and stern and uncompromising was the General's tone and attitude as he concluded this last remark, and his wife, listening, was conscious of a warring tumult of feelings. Yet she dared not sacrifice right and justice to the cause of the one ruling passion of her life-- her love for her younger son. So again she spoke in extenuation. "It is a pity. But he will be going to Ardleigh Court next week--and there's no telling what change in his fancy his stay there may effect." This time she touched the right spring. For she knew that her husband ardently desired a match between his eldest son and Clara Neville--a match that would bring about the union of the two fine old estates into one magnificent property. Hence he had "sounded" Roland on the subject, as we saw earlier in this narrative. "There may be something in that," was the mollified reply. "Clara can be exceedingly engaging when she likes, and I know Neville would be delighted. He seemed to take a great fancy to Roland." "I think he did." "And if only Roland would throw himself into his future interest here. He ought to live here and help to look after things, but he seems to prefer an idle life, and the society of those Rectory people to that of his own family," said the General, relapsing again into ire over the thought. "It is most unnatural of him, I must say, to dislike his home as he does," assented Mrs Dorrien. Yet they forgot, did that worthy couple, how it would have been difficult indeed for anyone to feel any love for a home thus constituted.