Alleyne was right. He was stronger in his own place, for, surrounded as he was by the various strange implements used in his studies, he seemed to Sir John someone far more imposing than the simple dreamy man, whom he had come, as he called it, to put down. Alleyne came from where he was standing with his hand resting upon some papers, and, bowing formally, he pointed to chairs, for it needed no words to tell that this was no friendly visit. "I've called, Mr Alleyne," said Sir John, giving his stick a twist, and then a thump down upon the floor, "to ask for some explanation." The major laid a warning hand upon his arm, for Sir John's voice was increasing in volume. In fact he had been impressed with the fact that his task was not so easy a one as he had imagined, and hence he was glad to have the sound of his own words to help work up the passion necessary to carry out his purpose. He lowered his tone directly, though, in obedience to his brother's hint, and continued his discourse angrily, but still as a gentleman should; and he afterwards owned to his brother that he forgot all about the horse-whipping he had designed from the moment he entered the room. "Those telescopes and the quicksilver trough and instruments put it all out of mind, Jem," he afterwards said. "One couldn't thrash a man who looks like a sage; whose every word and tone seems to say that he is your superior." Sir John finished a sufficiently angry tirade, in which he pointed out that Alleyne had met with gentlemanly courtesy, that he had been treated with every confidence, and made the friend of the family. Miss Day had made a companion of his sister, and nothing had been wanting on his part; while, on the other hand, Alleyne's conduct, Sir John said, had culminated in what was little better than an outrage. "There, sir," he exclaimed, by way of a finish, with his face very red and with a tremendous thump of his stick upon the floor. "Now, what have you to say?" Alleyne stood before them deadly pale, and with a fine dew glistening upon his forehead; but there was no look of shame or dread upon his face, which rather bore the aspect of one lately smitten by some severe mental blow from which he had not yet recovered. He gazed straight before him without meeting the eyes of either of his visitors, as if thinking of what reply he should find to a question that stung him to the heart. Then his eyes fell, and the wrinkles that formed in his brow made him look, at least, ten years older. Just then, as Sir John was chafing, and without thoroughly owning to it, wishing that he had let matters rest, the major said softly,-- "I thought I would come over with my brother, Mr Alleyne. I am sorry that this visit was deemed necessary." "Hang it all, Jem, don't take sides with the enemy! And you a soldier, too." "I take no sides, John," replied the major, quietly. "Had we not better end this interview?"