good care you don't
work yourself, trust you! I ain't a-going to work no more, so there it
is, plain and flat.'

Richard was not prepared for this; he could not hit at once on a new
course of procedure, and probably it was the uncertainty revealed in
his countenance that brought 'Arry to a pitch of boldness not altogether
premeditated. The lad came from the window, thrust his hands more firmly
into his pockets and stood prepared to do battle for his freeman's
rights It is not every day that a youth of his stamp finds himself
gloriously capable of renouncing work. There was something like a glow
of conscious virtue on his face.

'You're not going to work any more, eh?' said his brother, half to
himself. 'And who's going to support you?' he asked, with rather forced
indignation.

'There's interest per cent. coming out of my money.'

'Arry must not be credited with conscious accuracy in his use of terms;
he merely jumbled together two words which had stuck in his memory.

'Oh? And what are you going to do with your time?'

'That's my business. How do other men spend their time?'

The reply was obvious, but Richard felt the full seriousness of the
situation and restrained his scornful impulses.

'Sit down, will you?' he said quietly, pointing to a chair.

His tone availed more than anger would have done.

'You tell me I take good care not to do any work myself? There you're
wrong. I'm working hard every day.'

'Oh, we know what kind of work that is!'

'No, I don't think you do. Perhaps it would be as well if you were to
see. I think you'd better go to Wanley with me.'

'What for?'

'I dare say I can give you a job for awhile.'

'I tell you I don't want a job.'

Richard's eye wandered rather vacantly. From the first it had been
a question with him whether it would not be best to employ 'Arry at
Wanley, but on the whole the scheme adopted seemed more fruitful. Had
the works been fully established it would have been a different thing.
Even now he could keep the lad at work at Wanley, though not exactly
in the way he desired. But if it came to a choice between a life of
idleness in London and such employment as could be found for him at the
works, 'Arry must clearly leave town at once. In a few days the Manor
would be furnished; in a few weeks Emma would be there to keep house.

There was the difficulty of leaving his mother and sister alone.
It looked as if all would have to quit London. Yet there would b