"I never meddle with your affairs," and there was a tone of whining

complaint in Mrs. Worthington's voice; "I never pry and you never tell,

so I don't know how much you are worth, but I can judge somewhat, and I

don't think you are able."

Mrs. Worthington was much more easily won over to Hugh's opinion than

'Lina. They'd be a county talk, she said; nobody would come near them;

hadn't Hugh enough on his hands already without taking more?

"If my considerate sister really thinks so, hadn't she better try and

help herself a little?" retorted Hugh in a blaze of anger.

'Lina began to cry, and Hugh, repenting of his harsh speech as soon as

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it was uttered, but far too proud to take it back, strode up and down

the room, chafing like a young lion.

"Come children, it's after midnight, let us adjourn until to-morrow,"

Mrs. Worthington said, by way of ending the painful interview, at the

same time handing a candle to Hugh, who took it silently and withdrew,

banging the door behind him with a force which made 'Lina start and

burst into a fresh flood of tears.

"I'm a brute, a savage, and want to kick myself," was Hugh's not very

self-complimentary soliloquy, as he went up the stairs. "What did I want

to twit Ad for? Confound my badness!" and having by this time reached

his own door, Hugh sat down to think.




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