Butmyfather，I’msure，hastakenupsomenotionof—nevermind；onlytheendofitisthatheholdsOsbornestillintacitdisgrace，andismiserablehimselfallthetime。Osborne，too，issoreandunhappy，andestrangedfrommyfather。Itisjustwhatmymotherwouldhaveputrightverysoon，andperhapsyoucouldhavedoneit—unconsciously，Imean—
　　forthiswretchedmysterythatOsbornepreservesabouthisaffairsisattherootofitall。Butthere’snousetalkingaboutit；Idon’tknowwhyIbegan。’Then，withawrench，changingthesubject，whileMollystillthoughtofwhathehadbeentellingher，hebrokeout，—’Ican’ttellyouhowmuchIlikeMissKirkpatrick，Molly。Itmustbeagreatpleasuretoyouhavingsuchacompanion！’’Yes，’saidMolly，halfsmiling。’I’mveryfondofher；andIthinkIlikeherbettereverydayIknowher。Buthowquicklyyouhavefoundouthervirtues！’’Ididn’tsay"virtues，"didI？’askedhe，reddening，butputtingthequestioninallgoodfaith。’YetIdon’tthinkonecouldbedeceivedinthatface。
　　AndMrsGibsonappearstobeaveryfriendlyperson，—shehasaskedOsborneandmetodinehereonFriday。’’Bitterbeer’cameintoMolly’smind；butwhatshesaidwas，’Andareyoucoming？’’Certainly，Iam，unlessmyfatherwantsme；andI’vegivenMrsGibsonaconditionalpromiseforOsbornetoo。SoIshallseeyouallverysoonagain。ButImustgonow。Ihavetokeepanappointmentsevenmilesfromhereinhalfanhour’stime。Goodlucktoyourflower—garden，Molly。’
　　chapter22CHAPTERXXIITHEOLDSQUIRE’STROUBLESAffairsweregoingonworseattheHallthanRogerhadlikedtotell。Moreover，verymuchofthediscomforttherearosefrom’meremanner，’aspeopleexpressit，whichisalwaysindescribableandindefinable。QuietandpassiveasMrsHamleyhadalwaysbeeninappearance，shewastherulingspiritofthehouseaslongasshelived。Thedirectionstotheservants，downtothemostminuteparticulars，camefromhersitting—room，orfromthesofaonwhichshelay。Herchildrenalwaysknewwheretofindher；andtofindher，wastofindloveandsympathy。Herhusband，whowasoftenrestlessandangryfromonecauseoranother，alwayscametohertobesmootheddownandputright。Hewasconsciousofherpleasantinfluenceoverhim，andbecameatpeacewithhimselfwheninherpresence；justasachildisatcasewhenwithsomeonewhoisbothfirmandgentle。Butthekeystoneofthefamilyarchwasgone，andthestonesofwhichitwascomposedbegantofallapart。Itisalwayssadwhenasorrowofthiskindseemstoinjurethecharacterofthemourningsurvivors。Yet，perhaps，thisinjurymaybeonlytemporaryorsuperficial；thejudgmentssoconstantlypasseduponthewaypeoplebearthelossofthosewhomtheyhavedeeplyloved，appeartobeevenmorecruel，andwronglymetedout，thanhumanjudgmentsgenerallyare。Tocarelessobservers，forinstance，itwouldseemasthoughthesquirewasrenderedmorecapriciousandexacting，morepassionateandauthoritative，byhiswife’sdeath。Thetruthwas，thatitoccurredatatimewhenmanythingscametoharasshim，andsometobitterlydisappointhim；andshewasnolongertheretowhomheusedtocarryhissoreheartforthegentlebalmofhersweetwords。Sothesoreheartachedandsmartedinternally；
　　andoften，whenhesawhowhisviolentconductaffectedothers，hecouldhavecriedoutfortheirpity，insteadoftheirangerandresentment：’Havemercyuponme，forIamverymiserable。’Howoftenhavesuchdumbthoughtsgoneupfromtheheartsofthosewhohavetakenholdoftheirsorrowbythewrongend，asprayersagainstsin！Andwhenthesquiresawthathisservantswerelearningtodreadhim，andhisfirst—borntoavoidhim，hedidnotblamethem。Heknewhewasbecomingadomestictyrant；itseemedasifallcircumstancesconspiredagainsthim，andasifhewastooweaktostrugglewiththem；else，whydideverythingindoorsandout—of—doorsgosowrongjustnow，whenallhecouldhavedone，hadthingsbeenprosperous，wastohavesubmitted，inveryimperfectpatience，tothelossofhiswife？
　　ButjustwhenheneededreadymoneytopacifyOsborne’screditors，theharvesthadturnedoutremarkablyplentiful，andthepriceofcornhadsunkdowntoalevelithadnottouchedforyears。Thesquirehadinsuredhislifeatthetimeofhismarriageforaprettylargesum。Itwastobeaprovisionforhiswife，ifshehadsurvivedhim，andfortheiryoungerchildren。Rogerwastheonlyrepresentativeoftheseinterestsnow；butthesquirewasunwillingtolosetheinsurancebyceasingtopaytheannualsum。Hewouldnot，ifhecould，havesoldanypartoftheestatewhichheinheritedfromhisfather；and，besides，itwasstrictlyentailed。Hehadsometimesthoughthowwiseastepitwouldhavebeencouldhehavesoldaportionofit，andwiththepurchase—moneyhavedrainedandreclaimedtheremainder；andatlength，learningfromsomeneighbourthatGovernmentwouldmakecertainadvancesfordrainage，&；c。ataverylowrateofinterest，onconditionthattheworkwasdone，andthemoneyrepaid，withinagiventime；hiswifehadurgedhimtotakeadvantageoftheprofferedloan。Butnowthatshewasnolongerheretoencouragehim，andtakeaninterestintheprogressofthework，hegrewindifferenttoithimself，andcarednomoretogooutonhisstoutroancob，andsitsquareonhisseat，watchingthelabourersonthemarshylandallovergrownwithrushes；
　　speakingtothemfromtimetotimeintheirownstrongnervouscountrydialect：buttheinteresttoGovernmenthadtobepaidallthesame，whetherthemenworkedwellorill。ThentheroofoftheHallletinthemeltedsnow—waterthiswinter；and，onexamination，itturnedoutthatanewroofwasabsolutelyrequired。ThemenwhohadcomeabouttheadvancesmadetoOsbornebytheLondonmoney—lender，hadspokendisparaginglyofthetimberontheestate—’Veryfinetrees—sound，perhaps，too，fiftyyearsago，butgonetorotnow；hadwantedloppingandclearing。Wastherenowood—rangerorforester？TheywerenothinglikethevalueyoungMrHamleyhadrepresentedthemtobeof。’Theremarkshadcomeroundtothesquire’sears。Helovedthetreeshehadplayedunderasaboyasiftheywerelivingcreatures；
　　thatwasontheromanticsideofhisnature。Merelylookingatthemasrepresentingsomanypoundssterling，hehadesteemedthemhighly，andhadhad，untilnow，noopinionofanotherbywhichtocorrecthisownjudgment。
　　Sothesewordsofthevaluerscuthimsharp，althoughheaffectedtodisbelievethem，andtriedtopersuadehimselfthathedidso。But，afterall，thesecaresanddisappointmentsdidnottouchtherootofhisdeepresentmentagainstOsborne。Thereisnothinglikewoundedaffectionforgivingpoignancytoanger。AndthesquirebelievedthatOsborneandhisadvisershadbeenmakingcalculations，baseduponhisowndeath。Hehatedtheideasomuch—itmadehimsomiserable—thathewouldnotfaceit，anddefineit，andmeetitwithfullinquiryandinvestigation。Hechoserathertocherishthemorbidfancythathewasuselessinthisworld—bornunderanunluckystar—thatallthingswentbadlyunderhismanagement。Buthedidnotbecomehumbleinconsequence。HeputhismisfortunesdowntothescoreofFate—nottohisown；andheimaginedthatOsbornesawhisfailures，andthathisfirst—borngrudgedhimhisnaturaltermoflife。Allthesefancieswouldhavebeensettorightscouldhehavetalkedthemoverwithhiswife；orevenhadhebeenaccustomedtominglemuchinthesocietyofthosewhomheesteemedhisequals；but，ashasbeenstated，hewasinferiorineducationtothosewhoshouldhavebeenhismates；andperhapsthejealousyandmauvaisehontethatthisinferiorityhadcalledoutlongago，extendeditselfinsomemeasuretothefeelingsheentertainedtowardshissons—lesstoRogerthantoOsborne，thoughtheformerwasturningoutbyfarthemostdistinguishedman。ButRogerwaspractical；interestedinallout—of—doorsthings，andheenjoyedthedetails，homelyenough，whichhisfathersometimesgavehimoftheevery—dayoccurrenceswhichthelatterhadnoticedinthewoodsandthefields。Osborne，onthecontrary，waswhatiscommonlycalled’fine；’delicatealmosttoeffeminacyindressandinmanner；carefulinsmallobservances。AllthishisfatherhadbeenratherproudofinthedayswhenhehadlookedforwardtoabrilliantcareeratCambridgeforhisson；hehadatthattimeregardedOsborne’sfastidiousnessandeleganceasanotherstepping—stonetothehighandprosperousmarriagewhichwastorestoretheancientfortunesoftheHamleyfamily。ButnowthatOsbornehadbarelyobtainedhisdegree；thatalltheboastingsofhisfatherhadprovedvain；thatthefastidiousnesshadledtounexpectedexpenses（toattributethemostinnocentcausetoOsborne’sdebts），thepooryoungman’swaysandmannersbecameasubjectofirritationtohisfather。Osbornewasstilloccupiedwithhisbooksandhiswritingswhenhewasathome；andthismodeofpassingthegreaterpartofthedaygavehimbutfewsubjectsincommonwithhisfatherwhentheydidmeetatmeal—times，orintheevenings。PerhapsifOsbornehadbeenabletohavemoreout—of—dooramusementsitwouldhavebeenbetter；buthewasshort—sighted，andcaredlittleforthecarefully—observantpursuitsofhisbrother：heknewbutfewyoungmenofhisownstandinginthecounty；hishuntingeven，ofwhichhewaspassionatelyfond，hadbeencurtailedthisseason，ashisfatherhaddisposedofoneofthetwohuntershehadbeenhithertoallowed。Thewholestableestablishmenthadbeenreduced；perhapsbecauseitwastheeconomywhichtoldmostontheenjoymentofboththesquireandOsborne，andwhich，therefore，theformertookasavagepleasureinenforcing。Theoldcarriage—aheavyfamilycoachboughtinthedaysofcomparativeprosperity—wasnolongerneededaftermadam’sdeath，andfelltopiecesinthecobwebbedseclusionofthecoach—house。’Thebestofthetwocarriage—horseswastakenforagig，whichthesquirenowsetup；sayingmanyatimetoallwhomightcaretolistentohimthatitwasthefirsttimeforgenerationsthattheHamleysofHamleyhadnotbeenabletokeeptheirowncoach。Theothercarriage—horsewasturnedouttograss；beingtoooldforregularwork。Conquerorusedtocomewhinnyinguptotheparkpalingswheneverhesawthesquire，whohadalwaysapieceofbread，orsomesugar，oranapplefortheoldfavourite—andmademanyacomplainingspeechtothedumbanimal，tellinghimofthechangeoftimessincebothwereintheirprime。Ithadneverbeenthesquire’scustomtoencouragehisboystoinvitetheirfriendstotheHall。Perhapsthis，too，wasowingtohismauvaisehonte，andalsotoanexaggeratedconsciousnessofthedeficienciesofhisestablishmentascomparedwithwhatheimaginedtheseladswereaccustomedtoathome。HeexplainedthisonceortwicetoOsborneandRogerwhentheywereatRugby。’Yousee，allyoupublicschoolboyshaveakindoffreemasonryofyourown，andoutsidersarelookedonbyyoumuchasIlookonrabbitsandallthatisn’tgame。Ay，youmaylaugh，butitisso；andyourfriendswillthrowtheireyesaskanceatme，andneverthinkonmypedigree，whichwouldbeattheirsalltoshivers，I’llbebound。No：I’llhavenoonehereattheHallwhowilllookdownonaHamleyofHamley，evenifheonlyknowshowtomakeacrossinsteadofwritehisname。’Then，ofcourse，theymustnotvisitathousestowhosesonsthesquirecouldnotorwouldnotreturnalikehospitality。OnallthesepointsMrsHamleyhadusedherutmostinfluencewithoutavail；hisprejudiceswereimmovable。Asregardedhispositionasheadoftheoldestfamilyinthreecounties，hispridewasinvincible；asregardedhimselfpersonally—illateaseinthesocietyofhisequals，deficientinmanners，andineducation—hismorbidsensitivenesswastoosoreandtooself—conscioustobecalledhumility。Takeoneinstancefromamongmanysimilarscenesofthestateoffeelingbetweenthesquireandhiseldestson，which，ifitcouldnotbecalledactivediscord，showedatleastpassiveestrangement。IttookplaceonaneveningintheMarchsucceedingMrsHamley’sdeath。
　　RogerwasatCambridge。Osbornehadalsobeenfromhome，andhehadnotvolunteeredanyinformationastohisabsence。ThesquirebelievedthatOsbornehadbeeneitherinCambridgewithhisbrother，orinLondon；hewouldhavelikedtohearwherehissonhadbeen，whathehadbeendoing，andwhomhehadseen，purelyaspiecesofnews，andassomediversionfromthedomesticworriesandcareswhichwerepressinghimhard；buthewastooproudtoaskanyquestions，andOsbornehadnotgivenhimanydetailsofhisjourney。Thissilencehadaggravatedthesquire’sinternaldissatisfaction，andhecamehometodinnerwearyandsore—heartedadayortwoafterOsborne’sreturn。Itwasjustsixo’clock，andhewenthastilyintohisownlittlebusiness—roomontheground—floor，and，afterwashinghishands，cameintothedrawing—roomfeelingasifhewereverylate，buttheroomwasempty。
　　Heglancedattheclockoverthemantelpiece，ashetriedtowarmhishandsatthefire。Thefirehadbeenneglected，andhadgoneoutduringtheday；
　　itwasnowpiledwithhalf—driedwood，whichsputteredandsmokedinsteadofdoingitsdutyinblazingandwarmingtheroom，throughwhichthekeenwindwascuttingitswayinalldirections。Theclockhadstopped，noonehadrememberedtowinditup，butbythesquire’swatchitwasalreadypastdinner—time。Theoldbutlerputhisheadintotheroom，but，seeingthesquirealone，hewasabouttodrawitback，andwaitforMrOsborne，beforeannouncingdinner。Hehadhopedtodothisunperceived，butthesquirecaughthimintheact。’Whyisn’tdinnerready？’hecalledoutsharply。’It’stenminutespastsix。And，pray，whyareyouusingthiswood？It’simpossibletogetoneselfwarmbysuchafireasthis。’’Ibelieve，sir，thatThomas——’’Don’ttalktomeofThomas。Senddinnerindirectly。’Aboutfiveminuteselapsed，spentbythehungrysquireinallsortsofimpatientways—attackingThomas，whocameintolookafterthefire；
　　knockingthelogsabout，scatteringoutsparks，butconsiderablylesseningthechancesofwarmth；touchingupthecandles，whichappearedtohimtogivealightunusuallyinsufficientforthelargecoldroom。Whilehewasdoingthis，Osbornecameindressedinfulleveningdress。Healwaysmovedslowly；andthis，tobeginwith，irritatedthesquire。Thenanuncomfortableconsciousnessofaroughblackcoat，drabtrowsers，checkedcottoncravat，andsplashedboots，forceditselfuponhimashesawOsborne’spoint—devicecostume。HechosetoconsideritaffectationandfineryinOsborne，andwasonthepointofburstingoutwithsomeremark，whenthebutler，whohadwatchedOsbornedownstairsbeforemakingtheannouncement，cameintosaythatdinnerwasready。’Itsurelyisn’tsixo’clock？’saidOsborne，pullingouthisdaintylittlewatch。Hewasscarcelymoreawarethanitofthestormthatwasbrewing。’Sixo’clock！It’smorethanaquarterpast，’growledouthisfather，’Ifancyyourwatchmustbewrong，sir。IsetminebytheHorseGuardsonlytwodaysago。’Now，impugningthatoldsteady，turnip—shapedwatchofthesquire’swasoneoftheinsultswhich，asitcouldnotreasonablyberesented，wasnottobeforgiven。Thatwatchhadbeengivenhimbyhisfatherwhenwatcheswerewatcheslongago。Ithadgiventhelawtohouse—clocks，stable—clocks，kitchen—clocks—nay，eventoHamleyChurchclockinitsday；andwasitnow，initsrespectableoldage，tobelookeddownuponbyalittlewhipper—snapperofaFrenchwatchwhichcouldgointoaman’swaistcoatpocket，insteadofhavingtobeextricated，withdueeffort，likearespectablewatchofsizeandposition，fromafobinthewaistband？No！Notifthewhipper—snapperwerebackedbyalltheHorseGuardsthateverwere，withtheLifeGuardstoboot。PoorOsbornemighthaveknownbetterthantocastthissluronhisfather’sfleshandblood；forsodeardidheholdhiswatch！’Mywatchislikemyself，’saidthesquire，’girning，’astheScotchsay—’plain，butsteady—going。Atanyrate，itgivesthelawinmyhouse。
　　TheKingmaygobytheHorseGuardsifhelikes。’’Ibegyourpardon，sir，’saidOsborne，reallyanxioustokeepthepeace；
　　’Iwentbymywatch，whichiscertainlyrightbyLondontime；andI’dnoideayouwerewaitingforme，otherwiseIcouldhavedressedmuchquicker。’’Ishouldthinkso，’saidthesquire，lookingsarcasticallyathisson’sattire。’WhenIwasayoungmanIshouldhavebeenashamedtohavespentasmuchtimeatmylooking—glassasifI’dbeenagirl。IcouldmakemyselfassmartasanyonewhenIwasgoingtoadance，ortoapartywhereI
　　waslikelytomeetprettygirls；butIshouldhavelaughedmyselftoscornifI’dstoodfiddle—faddlingataglass，smirkingatmyownlikeness，allformyownpleasure。’Osbornereddened，andwasonthepointoflettingflysomecausticremarkonhisfather’sdressatthepresentmoment；buthecontentedhimselfwithsaying，inalowvoice，—’Mymotheralwaysexpectedusalltodressfordinner。Igotintothehabitofdoingittopleaseher，andIkeepitupnow。’Indeed，hehadacertainkindoffeelingofloyaltytohermemoryinkeepingupallthelittledomestichabitsandcustomsshehadinstitutedorpreferred。ButthecontrastwhichthesquirethoughtwasimpliedbyOsborne’sremark，puthimbesidehimself。’AndI，too，trytoattendtoherwishes。Ido：andinmoreimportantthings。
　　Ididwhenshewasalive；andIdosonow。’’Ineversaidyoudidnot，’saidOsborne，astonishedathisfather’spassionatewordsandmanner。’Yes，youdid，sir。Youmeantit。Icouldseebyyourlooks。Isawyoulookatmymorning—coat。Atanyrate，Ineverneglectedanywishofhersinherlife—time。Ifshe’dwishedmetogotoschoolagainandlearnmyA，B，C，Iwould。By——Iwould；andIwouldn’thavegoneplayingme，andloungingawaymytime，forfearofvexinganddisappointingher。Yetsomefolksolderthanschoolboys——’Thesquirechokedhere；butthoughthewordswouldnotcomehispassiondidnotdiminish。’I’llnothaveyoucastingupyourmother’swishestome，sir。You，whowentneartobreakherheartatlast！’Osbornewasstronglytemptedtogetupandleavetheroom。Perhapsitwouldhavebeenbetterifhehad；itmightthenhavebroughtaboutanexplanation，andareconciliationbetweenfatherandson。Buthethoughthedidwellinsittingstillandappearingtotakenonotice。Thisindifferencetowhathewassayingappearedtoannoythesquirestillmore，andhekeptongrumblingandtalkingtohimselftillOsborne，unabletobearitanylonger，said，veryquietly，butverybitterly，—’Iamonlyacauseofirritationtoyou，andhomeisnolongerhometome，butaplaceinwhichIamtobecontrolledintrifles，andscoldedabouttriflesasifIwereachild。Putmeinawayofmakingalivingformyself—thatmuchyouroldestsonhasarighttoaskofyou—Iwillthenleavethishouse，andyoushallbenolongervexedbymydress，ormywantofpunctuality。’’Youmakeyourrequestprettymuchasanothersondidlongago："Givemetheportionthatfallethtome。"ButIdon’tthinkwhathedidwithhismoneyismuchencouragementformeto——’Thenthethoughtofhowlittlehecouldgivehissonhis’portion，’oranypartofit，stoppedthesquire。Osbornetookupthespeech。’I’masreadyasanymantoearnmyliving；onlythepreparationforanyprofessionwillcostmoney，andmoneyIhaven’tgot。’’NomorehaveI，’saidthesquire，shortly。’Whatistobedonethen？’saidOsborne，onlyhalfbelievinghisfather’swords。’Why，youmustlearntostopathome，andnottakeexpensivejourneys；
　　andyoumustredeemyourtailor’sbills。Idon’taskyoutohelpmeinthemanagementoftheland—you’refartoofineagentlemanforthat；
　　butifyoucan’tearnmoney，atleastyouneedn’tspendit。’’I’vetoldyouI’mwillingenoughtoearnmoney，’criedOsborne，passionatelyatlast。’ButhowamItodoit？Youreallyareveryunreasonable，sir。’’AmI？’saidthesquire—coolinginmanner，thoughnotintemper，asOsbornegrewwarm。’ButIdon’tsetupforbeingreasonable：menwhohavetopayawaymoneythattheyhaven’tgotfortheirextravagantsons，aren’tlikelytobereasonable。There’stwothingsyou’vegoneanddonewhichputmebesidemyself，whenIthinkofthem：you’veturnedoutnextdoortoadunceatcollege，whenyourpoormotherthoughtsomuchofyou—andwhenyoumighthavepleasedandgratifiedhersoifyouchose—and，well！Iwon’tsaywhattheotherthingis。’’Tellme，sir，’saidOsborne，almostbreathlesswiththeideathathisfatherhaddiscoveredhissecretmarriage；butthefatherwasthinkingofthemoney—lenders，whowerecalculatinghowsoonOsbornewouldcomeintotheestate。’No！’saidthesquire。’IknowwhatIknow；andI’mnotgoingtotellyouhowIknowit。Only，I’lljustsaythis—yourfriendsnomoreknowapieceofgoodtimberwhentheyseeitthanyouorIknowhowyoucouldearnfivepoundsifitwastokeepyoufromstarving。Now，there’sRoger—wenoneofusmadeanadoabouthim；buthe’llhavehisfellowshipnowI’llwarranthim，andbeabishop，orachancellor，orsomething，beforewe’vefoundouthe’sclever—we’vebeensomuchtakenupthinkingaboutyou。Idon’tknowwhat’scomeovermetospeakof"we"—"we"inthisway，’saidhe，suddenlydroppinghisvoice，—achangeoftoneassadassadcouldbe。
　　’Ioughttosay"I；"itwillbe"I"forevermoreinthisworld。’Hegotupandlefttheroominquickhaste，knockingoverhischair，andnotstoppingtopickitup。Osborne，whowassittingandshadinghiseyeswithhishand，ashehadbeendoingforsometime，lookedupatthenoise，andthenroseasquicklyandhurriedafterhisfather，onlyintimetohearthestudy—doorlockedontheinsidethemomenthereachedit。Osbornereturnedintothedining—roomchagrinedandsorrowful。Buthewasalwayssensitivetoanyomissionoftheusualobservances，whichmightexciteremark；andevenwithhisheavyhearthewascarefultopickupthefallenchair，andrestoreittoitsplacenearthebottomofthetable；
　　andafterwardssotodisturbthedishesastomakeitappearthattheyhadbeentouched，beforeringingforRobinson。Whenthelattercamein，followedbyThomas，Osbornethoughtitnecessarytosaytohimthathisfatherwasnotwell，andhadgoneintothestudy；andthathehimselfwantednodessert，butwouldhaveacupofcoffeeinthedrawing—room。TheoldbutlersentThomasoutoftheroom，andcameupconfidentiallytoOsborne。’Ithoughtmasterwasn’tjustlyhimself，MrOsborne，beforedinner。AndthereforeImadeexcusesforhim—Idid。HespoketoThomasaboutthefire，sir，whichisathingIcouldinnowiseputupwith，unlessbyreasonofsickness，whichIamalwaysreadytomakeallowancesfor。’’Whyshouldn’tmyfatherspeaktoThomas？’saidOsborne。’But，perhaps，hespokeangrily，Idaresay；forI’msurehe’snotwell。’’No，MrOsborne，itwasn’tthat。Imyselfamgiventoanger；andI’mblessedwithasgoodhealthasanymaninmyyears。Besides，anger’sagoodthingforThomas。Heneedsadealofit。Butitshouldcomefromtherightquarter—andthatismemyself，MrOsborne。Iknowmyplace，andIknowmyrightsanddutiesaswellasanybutlerthatlives。Andit’smydutytoscoldThomas，andnotmaster’s。Masteroughttohavesaid，"Robinson！youmustspeaktoThomasaboutlettingoutthefire，"andI’dha’givenithimwell，—asIshalldonow，forthatmatter。ButasIsaidbefore，Imakeexcusesformaster，asbeinginmentaldistressandbodilyill—health；soI’vebroughtmyselfroundnottogivewarning，asIshouldha’done，forcertain，underhappiercircumstances。’’Really，Robinson，Ithinkit’sallgreatnonsense，’saidOsborne，wearyofthelongstorythebutlerhadtoldhim，andtowhichhehadnothalfattended。’WhatintheworlddoesitsignifywhethermyfatherspeakstoyouortoThomas？Bringmecoffeeinthedrawing—room，anddon’ttroubleyourheadanymoreaboutscoldingThomas。’Robinsonwentawayoffendedathisgrievancebeingcallednonsense。HekeptmutteringtohimselfintheintervalsofscoldingThomas，andsaying，—’Thingsisadealchangedsincepoormissiswent。Idon’twondermasterfeelsit，forI’msureIdo。Shewasaladywhohadalwaysabecomingrespectforabutler’sposition，andcouldhaveunderstoodhowhemightbehurtinhismind。She’dneverha’calledhisdelicaciesoffeelingsnonsense—notshe；nomorewouldMrRoger。He’samerryyounggentleman，andover—fondofbringingdirty，slimycreaturesintothehouse；buthe’salwaysakindwordforamanwhoishurtinhismind。He’dcheerupthesquire，andkeephimfromgettingsocrossandwilful。IwishMrRogerwashere，Ido。’Thepoorsquire，shutupwithhisgriefandhisill—temperaswell，inthedingy，drearystudyinwhichhedailyspentmoreandmoreofhisindoorslife，turnedoverhiscaresandtroublestillhewasasbewilderedwiththeprocessasasquirrelmustbeingoingroundinacage。Hehadoutday—booksandledgers，andwascalculatingupback—rents；andeverytimethesum—totalscametodifferentamounts。Hecouldhavecriedlikeachildoverhissums；hewaswornoutandweary，angryanddisappointed。Heclosedhisbooksatlastwithabang。’I’mgettingold，’hesaid，’andmyhead’slessclearthanitusedtobe。
　　Ithinksorrowforherhasdazedme。Ineverwasmuchtoboaston；butshethoughtadealofme—blessher！She’dneverletmecallmyselfstupid；
　　but，forallthat，Iamstupid。Osborneoughttohelpme。He’shadmoneyenoughspentonhislearning；butinstead，hecomesdowndressedlikeapopinjay，andnevertroubleshisheadtothinkhowI’mtopayhisdebts。
　　IwishI’dtoldhimtoearnhislivingasadancing—master，’saidthesquire，withasadsmileathisownwit。’He’sdressedforalltheworldlikeone。
　　Andhowhe’sspentthemoneynooneknows！PerhapsRogerwillturnupsomedaywithaheapofcreditorsathisheels。No，hewon’t—notRoger；hemaybeslow，buthe’ssteady，isoldRoger。Iwishhewashere。He’snottheeldestson，buthe’dtakeaninterestintheestate；andhe’ddoupthesewearyaccountsforme。IwishRogerwashere！’