William turned hastily, wondering who was at his elbow. At that moment the hall-door was thrown open, and the rays of the lamp shone forth, revealing the features of Robert Carr. Charlotte ran indoors, vouchsafing no greeting. She had taken a dislike to Robert Carr. He was free of speech, and the last time he and the young lady met, he had said something in her ear for which she would be certain to hate him for his life--"How was the angling going on? Had Bill Arkell bit yet?" "Hallo!" exclaimed William as he recognised him. "I thought you were in London! I heard you went up on Tuesday night!" "And came down last night. I want you to do me a favour, Arkell." He put his arm within William's as he spoke, and began pacing the yard. William thought his manner unusual. There seemed a nervous restlessness about it--if he could have fancied such a thing of Robert Carr. William waited for him to speak. "I have had an awful row with the governor to-day," he began at length. "I don't intend to stand it much longer." "What about?" "Oh! the old story--my extravagance. He was angry at my running up to town for a day, and called it waste of money and waste of time. So unreasonable of him, you know. Had I stayed a month, he'd not have made half the row." "It does seem like waste, to go so far for only a day," said William, "unless you have business. That is a different thing." "Well, I had business. I wanted to see a fellow there. You never heard any one make such a row about nothing. I have the greatest mind in the world to shake off the yoke altogether, and start for myself in life." William could not help laughing. "_You_ start?" "You think I couldn't? If I do, rely upon it I succeed. I'm nearly sick of knocking about. I declare I'd rather sweep a crossing, and get ten shillings a week and keep myself upon it, than I'd continue to have my life bothered out by him. I shall tell him so one of these first fine days if he doesn't let me alone. Why doesn't he!" "I suppose the fact is you continue to provoke him," remarked William. "What about?" was the fierce rejoinder. "Oh! you know, Carr. What I spoke to you of, before--though it is not any business of mine. Why don't you drop it?" "Because I don't choose," returned Robert Carr, understanding the allusion. "I declare, before Heaven, that there's no wrong in it, and I don't choose to submit myself, abjectly, to the will of others. The thing might have been dropped at first but for the opposition that was raised. So long as fools continue that, I shall go there." "For the girl's own sake, you should drop it. I presume you can't intend to marry her----" "Marry her!" scoffingly interrupted Robert Carr. "Just so. But she is a respectable girl, and----" "I'd knock any man down that dared to say she wasn't," said Robert, quietly. "But don't you know that the very fact of your continuing to go there must tend to damage her in public opinion? Edward Hughes must be foolish to allow it."