Mrs. Arundel looked tired and worried, and told her husband that things did not seem to go so smoothly as usual. "But then," she added, "I am always tired if Tom is poorly." [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER XI. TEMPTED. ONE afternoon when Arthur and Frank were at the Zoological Gardens, and were sitting under a tree resting, Frank exclaimed: "I say, Arthur, are all your folks teetotallers?" "Yes," said Arthur. "Are you?" "Why, yes, I suppose so." "Catch me," answered Frank. "Did your father make you?" "No, not in that sense." "Then why don't you do as you like, and come and have a glass of ale now?" "I have never taken any in my life." "Don't even know the taste? You are 'a ninny.'" "I'm not 'a ninny,' but I would not take any for the world." "Afraid of it?" "No, I don't think so. But we will not discuss it, please Frank." "Why not, if you're not afraid of it? What made your father a teetotaller?" "He said it was the dreadful evil he had seen it grow to in his professional experience." "Very likely, but everyone is not so silly; and I can't see why you should go without a pleasure and all that, just because other people abuse it. You won't take too much. Come along, I mean to have a glass; I'm awfully thirsty. You never signed, I suppose?" "No; but I would not break my determination. You go if you like, Frank, but I shan't." Frank laughed, and ran off towards the refreshment-rooms. He was gone some time, and Arthur had time to think. When Frank rejoined him he began again. "Well, now I feel jolly; I am not thirsty, and I feel as refreshed as possible." "So do I," said Arthur, smiling slightly. "How?" Arthur pointed to a water tap close by. "Nonsense! that's a very different thing. But, seriously, Arthur, do you mean to be judged for and petticoat governed all your life?" "No," said Arthur, frowning; "but in this matter it is no petticoat government; I have made up my mind." "You are too young yet to know." "Very likely; but let the matter be, Frank. In some things you know a great deal more than I do, and better too, I daresay, but not in this." Frank waved his hand airily, and rose up to go to the monkey-house, and Arthur followed, all the stronger for his victory. Had he not good reason for his determination? Had not there been a time, not so long ago, when he had come into his father's study and found him with his head buried in his hands? He would have drawn back, but his father beckoned to him, and made him sit down by him "while he told him a story." "Arthur, my boy, there were once two friends. Both were brought up with equal love and tenderness; both went to the same school, and then to college; both had opportunities of knowing the will of God, and of doing it. One, thank God, though with many falls and falters, passed through the temptations of youth, and came out a happy, successful man; the other—is just dead.