In fact, the moment you saw Max Shingle, you said to yourself, "What a splendid man for a beadle!" And so he was: put him in uniform, and he would have been simply perfect--from the soft roll of fat under his chin to the well-rounded calf of his leg, which showed so prominently through his well-cut trousers. His very appearance aggravated you, and caused an itching beneath the nail of your right toe; for he was one of those men whom nature out of pure beneficence moulded to be kicked as a relief to abnormal irritation. His appearance at every turn suggested it, inasmuch as he was padded with tissue of the most elastic nature, such as would yield easily to the foot; and thus the kicker would run no risks either of hurting himself or committing homicide, while he obtained the satisfaction all the same. "Now, sir," began Max, fiercely addressing his brother, "what have you to say?" "Well, I don't know yet," said Dick, looking in a puzzled way from one to the other. "What is it?" "Don't know!" cried Max. "Didn't I speak to you, sir, an hour or two back?" "Was it an hour or two back?" said Dick, who still held and soothed Jessie, as she clung to him. "Yes, it was, sir!" cried Max, who was surprised that his brother did not cower, according to his wont. "I told you an hour or two ago that I would not have these disgraceful proceedings." "What disgraceful proceedings?" said Dick sullenly. "These," cried Max, pointing with his stick first at Jessie and then at Tom. "I speak to you, and warn you--" "Let me say a word," began Tom. "Hold your tongue, sir!" cried Max, holding up his stick; but the young man did not flinch. "I say, I speak to you and warn you, and directly after I find your girl arm-in-arm with this foolish son of mine in the open street, sir--in the open street." "Well, Max, you can't have the streets shut up," said Dick quietly. "How dare you address me, sir, like that?" cried Max. "Will you listen, Mr Shingle?" cried Tom, who was losing patience--"it was all my fault." "Silence, sir! I will not hear a word. Your conduct is disgraceful, and after the Christian example that has been set you--" "I don't see anything unchristianlike in loving a good, sweet girl, sir," said the young man stoutly. "I cannot stand here and let you speak like this." "Then go, sir, go; and never dare to enter beneath this roof again while these people are here," cried Max. "I suppose you have had baits set to coax you into the trap, you silly pigeon?" "Indeed--" "But let me tell them all," said Max, looking round with supreme disgust, "that if their nefarious scheme had succeeded, you would not have received a shilling from me." Dick broke in here. He had been ready to explode several times, but had been kept back by wife and child. Now he could contain himself no longer. "Here, let me say a word," he exclaimed. "He hasn't been coaxed here, nor anything of the sort, Mr Max. We don't want him, and won't have him; so there now."