’Blazes and fury!’ exclaimed Charles; ’this is a new-fangled fashion of showing love. I have been from home five years, and this is the way in which I am welcomed home! I have come home with a ragged coat, and therefore I am served with cold comfort. If I had returned with gold guineas I should have been overwhelmed with affection.’ ’Not so,’ said Honor gravely. ’If you had returned with a sound character we would respect the rags; but what makes my heart ache is to see, not the tattered jacket, but the conscience all to pieces. How long is it since you landed?’ ’Five or six months ago.’ ’Where have you been since your return?’ ’Where I could spend my money. I did bring something with me, and I lived on it whilst it lasted. It is not all gone yet. Look here.’ He plunged his hand into his trousers pocket and jingled his coins carelessly in it. ’There!’ said he, ’you will feel more respect for me, and your love wake up, when you see I have money still, not much, but still, some. Curse it, I was a fool not to buy you a ribbon or a kerchief, and then you would have received me with smiles instead of frowns.’ Honor looked him steadily in the face, out of her clear hazel eyes. ’No, Charles, I want no presents from you. Why did not you return to us at once?’ ’Because I had no wish to be buried alive in Bratton Clovelly. Are you satisfied? Here I am at last.’ ’Yes,’ she repeated, ’here you are at last. What are you going to do now you are here?’ ’I don’t know,’ answered her brother with a shrug. Then he folded his arms, threw out his legs, and leaned back in the chair. ’A fellow like me, who has seen the world, can always pick up a living.’ Honor sighed. What had he learned? For what was he fitted? ’Charles,’ she said, ’this is your father’s house, and here you were born. You have as true a right to shelter in it as I. You are heartily welcome, you may believe that. But look about you. We are not in Coombe Park. Including you we make up twelve in this cottage. What we live on is what your father earns by his carrying; but he is in debt, and we have no money to spare, we cannot afford to maintain idlers.’ ’Take my money,’ said Charles, emptying his pocket oh the table. ’No,’ answered Honor. ’For a week we will feed you for nothing. That money must be spent in dressing you respectably. By next week you will have found work.’ ’Maybe,’ said the soldier. ’It is not every sort of work that will suit me. Any one want a gamekeeper about here?’ ’No, Charles, there is only Squire Impey in this parish; besides, without your forefinger, who would take you as a gamekeeper?’ ’The devil take me. I forgot that.’ ’Curses again,’ said Honor. ’You must refrain your mouth before the children.’ ’I have not gone to church,’ said Charles sullenly, ’because I didn’t want to be preached to; spare me a sermon at home.’