at shall you do?"

"Send Jemima and the baby. There's nothing like a young child for
bringing people round to a healthy state of feeling; and you don't
know what Jemima is, Mr Benson! No! though you've known her from her
birth. If she can't comfort her mother, and if the baby can't steal
into her grandfather's heart, why--I don't know what you may do to
me. I shall tell Jemima all, and trust to her wit and wisdom to work
at this end, while I do my best at the other."

"Richard is abroad, is not he?"

"He will be in England to-morrow. I must catch him somewhere; but
that I can easily do. The difficult point will be, what to do with
him--what to say to him, when I find him. He must give up his
partnership, that's clear. I did not tell his father so, but I am
resolved upon it. There shall be no tampering with the honour of the
firm to which I belong."

"But what will become of him?" asked Mr Benson, anxiously.

"I do not yet know. But, for Jemima's sake--for his dear old father's
sake--I will not leave him adrift. I will find him some occupation
as clear from temptation as I can. I will do all in my power. And he
will do much better, if he has any good in him, as a freer agent, not
cowed by his father into a want of individuality and self-respect.
I believe I must dismiss you, Mr Benson," said he, looking at his
watch; "I have to explain all to my wife, and to go to that clerk.
You shall hear from me in a day or two."

Mr Benson half envied the younger man's elasticity of mind, and power
of acting promptly. He himself felt as if he wanted to sit down
in his quiet study, and think over the revelations and events of
the last twenty-four hours. It made him dizzy even to follow Mr
Farquhar's plans, as he had briefly detailed them; and some solitude
and consideration would be required before Mr Benson could decide
upon their justice and wisdom. He had been much shocked by the
discovery of the overt act of guilt which Richard had perpetrated,
low as his opinion of that young man had been for some time; and the
consequence was, that he felt depressed, and unable to rally for the
next few days. He had not even the comfort of his sister's sympathy,
as he felt bound in honour not to tell her anything; and she was
luckily so much absorbed in some household contest with Sally that
she did not notice her brother's quiet languor.

Mr Benson felt that he had no right at this time to intrude into the
house which he had been once