This wrath accumulated violence in the course of an uncomfortable dinner. The poor woman had but one theme of perennial interest--her house and her servants. "I've thought of a new improvement," she began joyously. "What do you think of it? I'm going to have a little conservatory opening from the library window. The builders' men were here this afternoon, and they say it can be done quite easily, and won't cost more than about two hundred pounds." "Ah! that's like you!" he retorted, with a vicious snarl. "Always planning and plotting to spend my money, aren't you? Do you think I'm made of money? Do you think I've nothing to do but pay for your whims? I'd have you know I'm master in this house! And I'll have no builders' men coming here when I'm out!" "But Elisha, I thought you'd be pleased----" "Then you'd no business to think? I won't have you doing things without consulting me! No, I don't want any more dinner! I've other things to think of besides conservatories!" And he flung off from the table in a rage, leaving behind him tears and consternation. "What's the matter with father?" asked young Benjamin. "I'm sure I don't know," she replied. "He's getting mighty ill tempered." But at that the instinctive woman's loyalty flew to his defence. "I expect he's worried. Your father has so much to think of. Sometimes I think we were happier before we had all this money." "I don't," grinned the son. "That's all nonsense, mother. Money is about the only thing I know that's worth having in this world." With which admirable sentiment he took himself off to the billiard-room, where he remained till bed-time, smoking innumerable cigarettes, and playing a sullen game of pool. He also helped himself somewhat plentifully to whiskey, for what was the use of money if you couldn't get all the drink you wanted with it? The creed that money was the one thing in the world best worth having had not found a conspicuous justification in Benjamin Scales. He was not an amiable youth, as we have already seen; under no circumstances could he have achieved manly virtues; but, whereas poverty might have kept him in a straight course by the mere pressure of deprivation, money had set wide for him the gateway of easy vices and destructive pleasures.