me to go fishing with him; and I am sure he always
inquires very respectfully after the rest of them. I never said any
more than that in praise of him; and I can't say less, can I, when they
are all abusing him for whatever he does?"

"I think not. I believe we may spare him that much credit without
grudging."

"But, Sydney, you know it is not pleasant to us to hear you speak in
praise of Mr Walcot under present circumstances; and you should have a
little consideration for us."

"Well, mother, if you will not speak of him at all, no more will I."
And he glanced up into his mother's face, to see how the proposition was
taken. "That is fair, is not it?" he inquired of Mr Hope.

"Excellent in theory, Sydney; but who likes to be tied down not to speak
on any subject, especially one which is turning up every hour? Your
plan will not answer."

"I will ask you because I said I would--and all the more because you are
not cross about Mr Walcot--"

"Hold your tongue, Sydney!" said the mother.

"Do not be ridiculous, Sydney," advised the sister.

"Mr Hope will say whether it is ridiculous, Sophy. Now, Mr Hope,
would not you, and cousin Hester, and Margaret, go down the water with
us to the abbey, just the same if Mr Walcot was with us?"

"With any guest of your father's and mother's, Sydney. We have no
quarrel with Mr Walcot. The truth is, we feel, after all we have
heard, that we know very little about him. We have not the slightest
objection to meet Mr Walcot."

"Neither wish nor objection," said Hester, calmly. "We are perfectly
indifferent about him."

Sydney vehemently beckoned his father, who left the apricot he and
Margaret were examining by the surgery wall, and came to see what he was
wanted for.

"You see," said he to Hope, when the matter was explained, "I have
naturally been rather anxious to bring this about this meeting between
you and the young man. In a small place like this, it is painful to
have everybody quarrelling, and not to be able to get one's friends
about one, for fear they should brawl in one's very drawing-room. Mr
Rowland is of my mind there; and I know it would gratify him if I were
to take some notice of this young man. I really could hardly refuse,
knowing how handsomely Mr Rowland always speaks of you and yours, and
believing Mr Walcot to be a very respectable, harmless young man. If I
thought it would injure your interests in the least, I would see him at
Cape Horn bef