"Well, I can't help it, father; I've done my best." "Your best!" cried Vine senior, taking up a glass rod, and stirring the water in another glass jar. "It is not true." "But it's so absurd. You're a rich man." "If I were ten times as well off, I would not have you waste your life in idleness. You are not twenty-four, and I am determined that you shall take some post. I have seen too much of what follows when a restless, idle young man sits down to wait for his father's money. There, I am busy now. Go and think over what I have said. You must and shall do something. It is now a month since I received that letter. What is Mr Pradelle doing down here again?" "Come for a change, as any other gentleman would." "Gentleman?" "Well, he has a little income of his own, I suppose. If I've been unlucky, that's no reason why I should throw over my friends." The father looked at the son in a perplexed way, and then fed another sea-anemone, Harry looking on contemptuously. "Well, sir, you have heard what I said. Go and think it over." "Yes, father." The young man left the business-like study, and encountered his sister in the hall. "Well, Harry?" "Well, Lou." "What does papa say?" "The old story. I'm to go back to drudgery. I think I shall enlist." "For shame! and you professing to care as you do for Madelaine." "So I do. I worship her." "Then prove it by exerting yourself in the way papa wishes. I wonder you have not more spirit." "And I wonder you have not more decency towards my friends." Louise coloured slightly. "Here you profess to believe in my going into trade and drudging behind a counter." "I did not know that a counter had ever been in question, Harry," said his sister sarcastically. "Well, a clerk's desk; it's all the same. I believe you would like to see me selling tea and sugar." "I don't think I should mind." "No; that's it. I'm to be disgraced while you are so much of the fine lady that you look down on, and quite insult my friend Pradelle." "Aunt Margaret wishes to speak to you, dear," said Louise gravely. "I promised to tell you as soon as you left the study." "Then hang it all! why didn't you tell me? Couldn't resist a chance for a lecture. There's only one body here who understands me, and that's aunt. Why even Madelaine's turning against me now, and I believe it is all your doing." "I have done nothing but what is for your good, Harry." "Then you own to it? You have been talking to Maddy." "She came and confided in me, and I believe I spoke the truth." "Yes, I knew it!" cried Harry warmly. "Then look here, my lady, I'm not blind. I've petted you and been the best of brothers, but if you turn against me I shall turn against you." "Harry, dear!" "Ah, that startles you, does it? Then I shall tell the truth, and I'll back up Aunt Margaret through thick and thin." "What do you mean?" "What Aunt Margaret says. That long Scotch copper-miner is no match for you." "Harry!"