’There, there!’ groaned Oliver Luxmore, ’don’t make out matters worse they are. A sheep looks as big as a cow in a fog. You see ghosts where I see thorn-trees. Be gentler with Charles, not so peremptory. Men will not be ordered about by women. Charles is not a bad boy. There is meat on a trout as well as bones. All will come right in the end.’ Honor said no more. Her eyes filled; she stooped over her needlework to conceal them; her hand moved quickly, but the stitches were uneven. ’I will do something, I will indeed,’ said Luxmore, rising. He took his hat and went out, but returned quickly a few minutes later, agitated, and went through the room, saying hastily, ’Honor! he is coming, and—I think—drunk.’ Then he escaped into the back kitchen and out into the paddock in the rear where he kept his horse. That was all the help Honor was likely to get from him—to be forewarned. Next moment two of the children flew up the steps frightened and heated. ’O, Honor! Charlie is tight!’ Honor stood up, folded her needlework, put it aside, and went to the door. ’Children,’ she said, ’go behind into the field to father.’ Then she went to the head of the steps and looked down the lane. She saw her brother, coming on with a lurching walk, holding a stick, followed by a swarm of school-children, recently dismissed, who jeered, pelted him, and when he turned to threaten, dispersed to gather again and continue tormenting. Charles was not thoroughly drunk, but he was not sober. Honor’s brow became blood-red for a moment, and her hand trembled on the rail; but the colour left her forehead again, and her hand was firm as she descended the steps. At the sight of Honor Luxmore the children fell back, and ceased from their molestations. ’Halloa, Honor!’ shouted Charles, staggering to the foot of the steps. ’A parcel of gadflies, all buzz and sting! I’ll teach ’em to touch a soldier! Let me pass, Honor, and get away from the creatures.’ ’No, Charles,’ answered his sister, ’you do not pass.’ ’Why not?’ ’Because I will not let you—drunk.’ ’I am not drunk, not at all. It is you who are in liquor. Let me pass.’ He put his hand on the rail, and took a step up. ’You shall not pass!’ she spoke coolly, resolutely. ’Curse you for a pig-headed fool,’ said Charles, ’I’m not going to be stopped by such as you.’ ’Such as I shall stop you,’ answered Honor. ’Shame on you to dishonour the steps by which our mother went down to her burial! Verily, I saw her in my dreams, putting her hands over her face in her grave to hide the sight of her son.’ ’Stand aside.’ ’I will not budge!’ ’I was a fool to come home,’ muttered Charles, ’to be pickled in vinegar like walnuts. I wish I’d stayed away.’ ’I wish you had, Charles, till you had learned to conduct yourself with decency.’