’Disorderly ways,’ answered Honor, ’are like infectious diseases. When one has an attack, it runs through the house.’ ’Why do you not encourage folk to be friendly? You hold yourself aloof from all.’ Honor sighed. ’I cannot forget Charles, and the shame he is bringing on us. For me it matters little, but it matters much to the rest. The children will lose sense of fear at bad language, lies and bragging. Kate is a pretty girl, and some decent lad may take a fancy to her; but who would make a maid his wife who had such a brother?’ ’Oh! as for that, young Larry Nanspian is after her. You should see how they go on together, tormenting and joking each other.’ Honor coloured and turned her face aside. She said nothing for a minute, then with composed voice and manner she went on. ’See the bad example set to Joe. He tries his wings to fly away from me, as is natural; boys resist being controlled by the apron. He sees his elder brother, he hears him, he copies him, and he will follow him down the road to destruction. We must get Joe away into service unless we can make Charles go, which would be the better plan of the two.’ ’Charles has been away for some years. We must not drive him out of the house now we have him home again.’ ’Father, I wish you would be firm with him.’ ’I—I!’ he shook his head, ’I cannot be hard with the boy. Remember what he has gone through in India, in the wars. Look at his poor hand. Home is a place to which a child returns when no other house is open to it.’ Honor looked sadly at the carrier. No help was to be had from him. ’I suppose, father,’ she said, ’that there are rights all round. If Charles comes home claiming the shelter of our roof and a place at our table, he is bound in some way. He has no right to dishonour the roof and disturb the table. I grudge him no pains to make him comfortable, but I do expect he will not make it impossible for me to keep the home decent.’ ’Of course, of course, Honor,’ said the carrier, rubbing his palms slowly between his knees, and looking vacantly into the fire. ’That is reasonable.’ ’And right,’ Honor. ’And, father, you should make a stand. Now, all the responsibility falls on me.’ ’Oh, yes. I will make a stand; certainly, certainly,’ said Luxmore. ’Now let us change the subject.’ ’No,’ the girl. ’I cannot, and I will not. Charles must be made to conduct himself properly. I will not allow the little ones to hear his profane talk, see his devil-may-care ways. Mother committed them to me, and I will stand between them and evil. If it comes to a fight, we shall fight. All I wish is that the fight not to be between brother and sister.’ Her voice became hard, her brows contracted, her face became pale with intensity of feeling.