‘I think I told you,’ he said after a pause--a pause not long enough to give suspicion time to wake--‘that we have had a wandering life and an unsettled education; and I don’t doubt that to you that sounds like idleness. But it is our wish to find work for ourselves--assisted, if you will, by your generosity; and I am sure I may say that if you will consent to help us you will not find that you have any reason to complain.’ There was a slight sound of hesitation in his voice; but, in spite of that, he got through the words well enough. ‘Ye are meaning to tell me,’ Mr Lee looked at him fixedly, ‘that, if I were to take ye into my house to-day, ye wouldn’t waste money, an’ your sister wouldn’t flurret, an’ ye’d give up your old acquaintances, an’ be all as I could wish.’ A sudden, sharp pang pierced to the young man’s heart; for a moment it contracted his features, then he looked up and smiled. That smile meant assent, and he knew it meant assent; in that moment, for the sake of his ambition, he renounced his love. ‘Hum--hum--’ said the old man, and sat down, and got up again, and stood by the window, and then walked about the room; and then, pausing once more by the side of the table, remained with his head bent, absorbed in thought. His companion was aware that on the issue of those moments depended the lives of his sister and himself, but he sat quietly waiting the event, and only clenched the nails of his hands into the palms. Five minutes passed--ten--in that strained, breathless silence, and then Mr Lee sat down once more and spoke. ‘Well, well,’ he said, ‘I’ve been glad to hear all ye say, an’ to have this opportunity of knowing more o’ ye; we’ll have occasion to talk on these things again, an’ I’ll happen be able to make up my mind next time. I’ve got many calls, ye see, on me just now, but I’ll pay for the board and lodgin’ as before; an’ ye an’ your sister must come to me some day, so as we may be learnin’ to know more of each other. I’ve an engagement, so I’ll wish ye good-day; but if ye stay for refreshment I’ll have some sent to ye. Good-bye to ye now, an’ many thanks for thy visit; we’ll learn to be acquainted soon, I doubt--good-bye.’