e
awkwardness in housing the whole family at the Manor; and besides--

What the 'besides' implied Richard did not make formal even in his own
thoughts. It stood for a vague objection to having all his relatives
dwelling at Wanley. Alice he would not mind; it was not impossible to
picture Alice in conversation with Mrs. and Miss Waltham; indeed, he
desired that for her. And yet--

Richard was at an awkward pass. Whithersoever he looked he saw
stumbling-blocks, the more disagreeable in that they rather loomed in a
sort of mist than declared themselves for what they were. He had not the
courage to approach and examine them one by one; he had not the audacity
to imagine leaps over them; yet somehow they had to be surmounted. At
this moment, whilst 'Arry was waiting for the rejoinder to his last
reply, Richard found himself wrestling again with the troubles which had
kept him wakeful for the last two nights. He had believed them finally
thrown and got rid of. Behold, they were more stubborn than ever.

He kept silence so long that his brother spoke.

'What sort of a job is it?'

To his surprise, Richard displayed sudden anger.

'If you weren't such a young fool you'd see what's best for you, and go
on as I meant you to! What do you mean by saying you won't work? If you
weren't such a thickhead you might go to school and be taught how to
behave yourself, and how a man ought to live; but it's no use sending
_you_ to any such place. Can't you understand that a man with money
has to find some sort of position in the world? I suppose you'd like to
spend the rest of your life in public-houses and music-halls?'

Richard was well aware that to give way to his temper was worse than
useless, and could only defeat every end; but something within him just
now gnawed so intolerably that there was nothing for it but an outbreak.
The difficulties of life were hedging him in--difficulties he could
not have conceived till they became matter of practical experience.
And unfortunately a great many of them were not of an honest kind; they
would not bear exposing. For a man of decision, Mutimer was getting
strangely remote from practical roads.

'I shall live as I like,' observed 'Arry, thrusting out his legs and
bending his body forward, a combination of movements which, I know not
why, especially suggests dissoluteness.

Richard gave up the contest for the present, and went in silence from
the room. As he joined his mother and sister