"You may joke as much as you like, Hexton," said his wife, bridling, "but no one shall ever say that I put anybody into a damp bed; and as for the camomile tea, many a time has it given you health when you have been ailing." "Why, you don't think I ever took any of the stuff you left out for me, do you?" "Of course, dear." "Never took a glass of it," said Old Hexton, chuckling. "Threw it all out of the window." "Then it was a great shame," said Mrs Hexton angrily, "and a very bad example to set to your son." "Never mind, Phil; don't you take it," chuckled Mr Hexton. Then becoming serious he went on: "Well, there's no hurry, my boy; only now that you are back from Germany, and can talk High Dutch and Low Dutch, and French, and all the rest of it, why it is getting time to settle what you are to do. I could allow you so much a year, and let you be a gentleman, with nothing to do, if I liked; but I don't hold with a young fellow going through life and being of no use--only a tailor's dummy to wear fine clothes." "Oh no, father; I mean to take to a business life," said Philip Hexton quickly. "Of course, my lad; and you'll do well in it. I began life in a pair of ragged breeches that didn't fit me, shoving the corves of coal in a mine; and now," he exclaimed proudly, "I'm partner as well as manager in our pit. So what I say is, if I could do what I have done, beginning life in a pair of ragged breeches that didn't fit me, why, what can my boy do, as has had a first-class education, and can have money to back him?" "My dear James," said Mrs Hexton, "I do wish you would not be so fond of talking about those--those--" "Ragged breeches, mother?" said the old fellow, chuckling; "but I will. That's her pride, Phil, my boy. Now she wears caps made of real lace, she wants to forget how humble she used to be." "Nothing of the kind, James," said the pleasant lady tartly; "I'm not ashamed of our humble beginnings, but I am ashamed to make vulgar remarks." "That's a knock-down, Phil, my boy," said Mr Hexton. "There, I won't mention them again, mother. But come, we are running away from our subject. I'm heartily glad to see you back, Phil," he cried; and there was a little moisture gathered in his eyes as he spoke; "and I thank God to see that you have grown into so fine, healthy, and sturdy a fellow. God bless you, my boy! God bless you!" He had left his seat at the foot of the table, and came round to stand beside his son, patting his shoulder, and then taking and wringing his hand. He half bent down, too, once, as if to kiss the broad sunburnt forehead, but altered his mind directly, as he thought it would be weak, and ended by going and sitting down once more. "There's plenty of time, of course," he said, "but somehow I shouldn't dislike to have it settled. Have you ever thought about the matter, Phil?"