“Nobody has ever spoken of your going except yourself, mother.”

“I won’t live in the house with her.”

“And what would you have me do? Would you wish me to let her go her way and starve by herself?”

“No, John; certainly not. I think you should see that she wants for nothing. She could live with her sister-in-law, and have the interest of the money that the Rubbs took from her. It was your money.”

“I have explained to you over and over again, mother, that that has already been made over to Mrs Tom Mackenzie; and that would not have been at all sufficient. Indeed, I have altogether made up my mind upon that. When the lawyers and all the expenses are paid, there will still be about eight hundred a year. I shall share it with her.”

“John!”

“That is my intention; and therefore if I were to marry her I should get an additional income of four hundred a year for myself and my children.”

“You don’t mean it, John?”

“Indeed I do, mother. I’m sure the world would expect me to do as much as that.”

“The world expect you! And are you to rob your children, John, because the world expects it? I never heard of such a thing. Give away four hundred a year merely because you are afraid of those wretched newspapers! I did expect you would have more courage.”

“If I do not do one, mother, I shall do the other certainly.”

“Then I must beg you to tell me which you mean to do. If you gave her half of all that is coming to you, of course I must remain here because you could not live here without me. Your income would be quite insufficient. But you do owe it to me to tell me at once what I am to do.”

To this her son made no immediate answer, but sat with his elbow on the table, and his head upon his hand looking moodily at the fire-place. He did not wish to commit himself if he could possibly avoid it.

“John, I must insist upon an answer,” said his mother. “I have a right to expect an answer.”

“You must do what you like, mother, independently of me. If you think you can live here on your income, I will go away, and you shall have the place.”

“That’s nonsense, John. Of course you want a large house for the children, and I, if I must be alone, shall only want one room for myself. What should I do with the house?” Then there was silence again for a while.

“I will give you a final answer on Saturday,” he said at last. “I shall see Margaret before Saturday.”

After that he took his candle and went to bed. It was then Tuesday, and Lady Ball was obliged to be contented with the promise thus made to her.

On Wednesday he did nothing. On the Thursday morning he received a letter which nearly drove him mad. It was addressed to him at the office of the Shadrach Fire Insurance Company, and it reached him there. It was as follows—