a maudlin tone, "how's our dear mother?"

"She's pretty well," replied May, "but you had better not go up and see
her."

"No, darling, I won't go if you say not."

His eyes then fell uncertainly upon Mrs. Dagon, and he added, thickly,

"That's only Aunt Dagon. How do, Aunt Dagon?"

He smiled at her and at May, and continued,

"I don't mind Aunt Dagon. Do you mind her, May?"

"What do you want, Abel?" asked May, with the old expression sliding into
her eyes that used to be there when she sat alone--a fairy princess in
her tower, and thought of many things.

Abel had seated himself upon the sofa, with his hat still on his head.
There was perhaps something in May's tone that alarmed him, for he began
to shed tears.

"Oh! May, don't you love your poor Abel?"

She looked at him without speaking. At length she said, "Where have you
been?"

"I've been to General Belch's," he sobbed, in reply; "and I don't mind
Aunt Dagon, if you don't."

"What do you mean by that, you silly fool?" asked Mrs. Dagon, sharply.

Abel stopped and looked half angry, for a moment, but immediately fell
into the old strain.

"I mean I'd just as lieve say it before her."

"Then say it," said May.

"Well, May, darling, couldn't you now just coax Gabriel--good fellow,
Gabriel--used to know him and love him at school--couldn't you coax him
to get Uncle Lawrence to do something?"

May shook her head. Abel began to snivel.

"I don't mean for the house. D----n it, that's gone to smash. I mean for
myself. May, for your poor brother Abel. You might just try."

He lay back and looked at her ruefully.

"Aunt Dagon," she said, quietly, "we had better go out of the room. Abel,
don't you come up stairs while you are in this state. I know all that
Uncle Lawrence has done for father and you, and he will do nothing more.
Do you expect him to pay your gambling debts?" she asked, indignantly.

Abel raised himself fiercely, while the bad blackness filled his eyes.

"D----d old hunks!" he shouted.

But nobody heard. Mrs. Dagon and May Newt had closed the door, and Abel
was left alone.

"It's no use," he said, moodily and aloud, but still thickly. "I
can't help it. I shall have to do just as Belch wishes. But he must
help me. If he expects me to serve him, he must serve me. He says he
can--buy off--Bodley--and then--why, then--devil take it!" he said,
vacantly, with heavy eyes, "then--then--oh yes!" He smiled a maudlin
smile. "Oh yes! I shall