d him; and he will
come, too, as often as I like, and he'll help me to make you--Bah!
nonsense! Come, don't let's talk like this: you're out of sorts, and no
wonder, and I've come at a bad time. To-morrow you'll be cool, and
you'll put that little hand in mine, and say, `James Poynter, you've
acted like a man and my best friend, and I won't say no.'"

He tried to take her hand, but she shrank from him.

"Sir, I beg that you will not come here again," she said, drawing
herself up. "I am not blind to your position with my brother, but--"

"Your brother's a weak-minded young fool!" cried Poynter, who had now
thoroughly become roused, so withering was the contempt written in
Rich's eyes; "and--"

He stopped short, for in the heat of the encounter neither had heard the
latch-key in the front-door, nor the opening of that of the room, to
admit Hendon Chartley, who stood still for a few moments, and then
strode to his sister's side and put his arm round her.

"Yes," he said hoarsely, "I have been a weak young fool, James Poynter,
to let you play with me as you pleased; but please God, with my sister's
help, I'm going to be strong now, and if you don't leave this house I'll
kick you out."

"You kick me out!" snarled Poynter, snatching his handkerchief from his
pocket and polishing his hat savagely; "not you! So it's going to be
war, is it? Why, if I liked--There, you needn't threaten. I'm not
going to quarrel with you, my lad, because we're going to be brothers."

"Brothers!" cried Hendon, in tones of contempt.

"Yes, my lad, brothers. I've gone the right way to work, and you know
it, too. There, we're all peppery now. Rich, my dear, you know what
I've said. I'm not angry. It was only a flash, and you won't make me
any the worse for speaking out like a man. Next time I come we shall be
better friends."

He gave his hat a final polish, flourished his handkerchief, and left
the room.

"Hendon, Hendon, what have you done?" cried Richmond, as soon as they
were alone. "Had we not trouble enough without this?"

"The cad!" cried Hendon angrily.

"And after what had passed you went to him again!"

"How could I help it?" said the young man, with a groan. "I owe him
money, and it's like a chain about my neck. He tugs it, and I'm obliged
to go."

"And he hinted that our poor father was in his debt."

"The governor? Oh, Rich!"

Richmond said nothing, but returned to her watching by her father's
pillow,