"Yes," said Jane, gently. "Things that appear untoward at the time frequently turn out afterwards to have been the very best that could have happened. God directs all things, you know, mamma." A contention arose respecting Robert, some weeks after they had been in their new house--or it may be better to call it a discussion. Robert had never taken very kindly to what he called book-learning. Mr. Tait's wish had been that both his sons should enter the Church. Robert had never openly opposed this wish, and for the calling itself he had a liking; but particularly disliked the study and application necessary to fit him for it. Silent while his father lived, he was so no longer; but took every opportunity of urging the point upon his mother. He was still attending Dr. Percy's school daily. "You know, mother," dropping down one day in a chair, close to his mother and Jane, and catching up one leg to nurse--rather a favourite action of his--"I shall never earn salt at it." "Salt at what, Robert?" asked Mrs. Tait. "Why, at these rubbishing classics. _I_ shall never make a tutor, as Mr. Halliburton and Francis do; and what on earth's to become of me? As to any chance of my being a parson, of course that's over: where's the money to come from?" "What _is_ to become of you, then?" cried Mrs. Tait. "I'm sure I don't know." "Besides," went on Robert, lowering his voice, and calling up the most effectual argument he could think of, "I ought to be doing something for myself. I am living here upon Mr. Halliburton." "He is delighted to have you, Robert," interrupted Jane, quickly. "Mamma pays----" "Be quiet, Mrs. Jane! What sort of a wife do you call yourself, pray, to go against your husband's interests in that manner? I heard you preaching up to the charity children the other day about its being sinful to waste time." "Well?" said Jane. "Well! what's waste of time for other people is not waste of time for me, I suppose?" went on Robert. "You are not wasting your time, Robert." "I am. And if you had the sense people give you credit for, Madam Jane, you'd see it. I shall never, I say, earn my salt at teaching; and--just tell me yourself whether there seems any chance now that I shall enter the Church." "At present I do not see that there is," confessed Jane. "There! Then is it waste of time, or not, my continuing to study for a career which I can never enter upon?" "But what else can you do, Robert?" interposed Mrs. Tait. "You cannot idle your time away at home, or be running about the streets all day." "No," said Robert, "better stop at school for ever than do that. I want to see the world, mother." "You--want--to--see--the--world!" echoed Mrs. Tait, bringing out the words slowly in her astonishment, whilst Jane looked up from her work, and fixed her eyes upon her brother. "It's only natural that I should," said Robert, with equanimity. "I have an invitation to go down into Yorkshire." "What to do?" cried Mrs. Tait.