t amiss, I shall be very glad to do
my best.'

'That's right; thank you.'

Adela went down and was alone with 'Arry for half-an-hour. She was young
to undertake such an office, but suffering had endowed her with gravity
and understanding beyond her years, and her native sweetness was such
that she could altogether forget herself in pleading with another for
a good end. No human being, however perverse, could have taken ill the
words that were dictated by so pure a mind, and uttered in so musical
and gentle a voice. She led 'Arry to speak frankly.

'It seems to me a precious hard thing,' he said, 'that they've let Dick
keep enough money to live on comfortable, and won't give me a penny. My
right was as good as his.'

'Perhaps it was,' Adela replied kindly. 'But you must remember that
money was left to your brother by the will.'

'But you don't go telling me that he lives on two pounds a week?
Everybody knows he doesn't. Where does the rest come from?'

'I don't think I must talk about that. I think very likely jour brother
will explain if you ask him seriously. But is it really such a hard
thing after all, Harry? I feel so sure that you will only know real
happiness when you are earning a livelihood by steady and honourable
work. You remember how I used to go and see the people in New Wanley?
I shall never forget how happy the best of them were, those who worked
their hardest all day and at night came home to rest with their families
and friends. And you yourself, how contented you used to be when your
time was thoroughly occupied! But I'm sure you feel the truth of this.
You have been disappointed; it has made you a little careless. Now work
hard for a year and then come and tell me if I wasn't right about that
being the way to happiness. Will you?'

She rose and held her hand to him; the hand to which he should have
knelt. But he said nothing; there was an obstacle in his throat. Adela
understood his silence and left him.

Richard went to work among his friends, and in a fortnight had found his
brother employment of a new kind. It was a place in an ironmonger's shop
in Hoxton; 'Arry was to serve at the counter and learn the business. For
three months he was on trial and would receive no salary.

Two of the three months passed, and all seemed to be going well. Then
one day there came to Mutimer a telegram from 'Arry's employer; it
requested that he would go to the shop as soon as possible. Foreseeing
some cat