“You receive offers of help in a somewhat curious fashion, young man,” said Sir Matthew with a sneer. “But in spite of that I still think you are very well cut out for a parson. Your dramatic instincts and your good voice would fit you well enough for the Church, and you are already able, I perceive, to preach to your elders and betters.” Ralph winced at the sarcasm, but he caught hold of the weak point in his opponent’s argument. “No,” he said, emphatically, “I am not fit for the work of a clergyman. The only thing that can fit a man for that is a distinct call from God. You are tempting me to go in for the loaves and fishes, and you dare to say that you do this for my father’s sake--my father, who would have starved first!” “Perhaps he would,” said Sir Matthew coldly. “He was, as all his friends knew, an unpractical fool. You needn’t look as if you could kill me. He had excellent abilities but no power of pushing his way, and he left you a beggar in consequence, proving, according to scripture, that as he had neglected to secure future provision for his family he had denied the faith and was worse than an infidel. Now, to return to business; are you going to accept this offer of mine, or do you intend to be a pig-headed idiot, and affect to be calling a mere matter of business simony?” Ralph’s eyes lighted up. “I mean,” he said quietly, “to be true to my father’s ideals.” Sir Matthew broke into a discordant laugh. “Did his precious ideals feed you and clothe you and send you to Winchester? Don’t you know by his own confession that he had mismanaged his affairs?” “I know,” said Ralph indignantly, “that, whatever his faults, he was at least an honest man.” He had meant no insinuation whatever, but the words galled his companion terribly. Sir Matthew rose to his feet in a towering passion. “You impertinent, ungrateful fellow, do you dare to insult me in my own house? Go, sir, get out of my sight! I have had enough of you. Let us see now how your ideals will support you! Leave my house and never set foot in it again!” Ralph, too angry and sore to realise all that the words meant, turned without a word and left the library. CHAPTER VI “The grace of friendship--mind and heart, Linked with their fellow heart and mind; The gains of science, gifts of art; The sense of oneness with our kind; The thirst to know and understand-- A large and liberal discontent: These are the goods in life’s rich hand, The things that are more excellent.” William Watson.