I bowed, declining his arm, and trudged beside him. From its summit Belem was only half in sight. Its old, crooked streets sloped and disappeared from view; Wolf's Point was at the right of us, and its thread of sea. I began talking of our walk, and was giving an extended description of it, when he abruptly asked why I came to Belem. "I know," he said, "that you would not have come, had there been any sentiment between you and Ben." "Thanks for your implication. But I must have made the visit, you know, or how could I learn that I should not have made it?" "You regret coming?" "Veronica will give me no thanks." "Who is she?" "My sister, whom Ben loves." "Ben love a sister of yours? My God--how? when first? where? And how came you to meet him?" "That chapter of accidents need not be recounted. Can you help him?" "What can I do?" he said roughly. "There is little love between us. You know what a devil's household ours is; but he is one of us--he is afraid." "Of what?" "Of mother--of our antecedents--of himself." "I could not expect you to speak well of him." "Of course not. Your sister has no fortune?" "She has not. Men whose merchandise is ships are apt to die bankrupt." "Your father is a merchant?" "Even at that, the greatest of the name. "We are all tied up, you know. Ben's allowance is smaller than mine. He is easy about money; therefore he is pa's favorite." "Why do you not help yourselves?" "Do you think so? You have not known us long. Have you influenced Ben to help himself?" I marched down the hill without reply. Repassing Mrs. Hepburn's, he said, "My grandfather was an earl's son." "Mrs. Hepburn likes you for that. My grandfather was a tailor; I should have told her so, when she gave me the aqua marina jewels." "Had you the courage?" "I forgot both the fact and the courage." I hurried along, for it grew dark, and presently saw Ben on the steps of the house. "Have you been walking?" he asked. "It looks so. Yes, with me," answered Desmond. "Wont you give me thanks for attention to your friend?" "It must have been a whim of Cassandra's." "Break her of whims, if you can--" "I _will_." We went into the parlor together. "Where do you think I have been?" Ben asked. "Where?" "For the doctor. The _baby_ is sick"; and he looked hard at Desmond. "I hope it will live for years and years," I said. "I know what you are at, Ben," said Desmond. "I have wished the brat dead; but upon my soul, I have a stronger wish than that--I have _forgotten_ it." There was no falseness in his voice; he spoke the truth. "Forgive me, Des." "No matter about that," he answered, sauntering off. I felt happier; that spark of humanity warmed me. I might not have another. "I would," I said, "that the last day, the last moments of my visit had come. You will see me henceforth in Surrey. I will live and die there." "To-night," Ben said, "I am going to tell pa." "That is best." "Horrible atmosphere!" "It would kill Verry."