He turned abruptly, and began speaking to Mrs Shingle; while Fred, seizing the opportunity, took a seat beside Jessie on the couch, and began to talk to her rapidly about the various trifles of the day-- chattering on, while she seemed to be listening to him, for she replied in monosyllables, though she was striving, with every nerve strained, to hear what was said by his brother. Before many words had passed, though, voices were heard from without, increasing in loudness; and Mrs Shingle started up, for it was plain that her husband was in a towering rage. In fact, as he came through the conservatory, he struck a handsome jardiniere a heavy blow with his open hand, shivering it upon the tesselated tiles of the floor. "Hallo!" cried Dick angrily, as he entered, followed by Max, "you are all here, are you! Why didn't you bring the wife and the servants, and take possession? It's all right--there's plenty of room. Here, you sir, get off that sofa!" The young men rose as he entered--Fred very slowly, and evidently amused; while Tom's face flushed with rage. "Oh, father!" cried Jessie, whose face had become suffused from shame and annoyance. "There, I know what I'm doing," he said. "Hold your tongue. You and your mother had better be off. You'll stop? Well, then, stay." "Is your husband subject to a little--er--er--? You know, Mrs Richard," said Max, tapping his forehead. "No," said Dick sharply, "he isn't. And now, may I ask, young fellows, how it is you condescend to be here? If it's to order boots and chuck 'em on my hands for misfits, you've not come to the right shop." "They came unknown to me," said Max hotly. "I dessay they did," cried Dick; "but whether they did or not, they've come to the wrong place, and, once for all, I forbid them my house." "Come, father," said Tom sternly; while Fred took a step to Jessie's side, and whispered-- "Dear Jessie, for heaven's sake let this make no difference to us." She turned her eyes upon him for a moment, and Tom saw the glance; and then, as she gazed at him, directed a look upon her of withering contempt, beneath which she shivered. "Don't be in too great a hurry," said Dick. "As you are here, we may as well have it out. We don't often meet. Now, Max, my most affectionate brother, have the goodness to say that again, and let your wife's sons hear what sort of a man you are." "No," said Max, "I leave now. I shall take my own steps about it." "You will?" said Dick, looking startled. "I shall, sir--I shall. I don't consider you are fit to be trusted. There are such cases as inquiries in lunacy." "Bah!" said Dick, who looked startled all the same. "Well, if you don't say what you said to me, here out loud before them all, I shall say it myself." "Then I will say it!" cried Max desperately. "What I said was this: As your uncle has hit upon some scheme for making a fortune, I have a right, as his own brother--" "Very own, indeed," said Dick quietly.