Mr. Robert Carlaw cleared his throat and settled his neckcloth, and hesitated for a moment before speaking. At last he began: "My dear sister, I had hoped that some--some of the unpleasantness which embittered--yes, I repeat, embittered--my visit to London might have been swept away at this later interview. Of course, I admit that the fault was mine--it must have been--but----" "Don't worry yourself; it _was_ your fault. But we don't come any nearer to what you want." Mr. Carlaw sighed, and stretched out his hand toward his sister; showed his teeth in a fierce grin, and shook a fist at her. "I have endeavoured to explain. My object in desiring to meet you is a pure and a simple one--I may say a brotherly one." She began to rock herself over the head of her stick again in that dreadful fashion which had alarmed Comethup before. The boy would have been glad to escape from an interview in which he appeared to have no part, but that Miss Carlaw had laid her hand again on his shoulder, and was detaining him beside her. "O Bob, Bob, what a humbug you are! You're one of those fellows who can't take a straight line. If fifty different roads branched out before you, and you were blindfolded, and forty-nine of those roads made for good and the other didn't, by the Lord, you'd choose the other! I believe you've always been rather popular with women--I can see you twirling your mustache; I'm sure you are, you dog--but you haven't been popular with me. The others had ordinary eyes to see your perfections; I had other eyes which served me better." She sat up fiercely, and brought her stick down sharply on the floor. "Why the devil can't you be honest? Why can't you say that you want my money? There, don't protest; I swear I'd like you the better if you'd only say straight out what you want. You've got all our late respected father's cant and none of his firmness. Now, listen to me. Are you listening?" "I am all attention, my dear Charlotte," replied Mr. Robert Carlaw, humbly.