ready." She did not answer
that hut stared at him with amazement.

"But never mind that," he went on. "What if I am a bad lot? I don't
know what a bad lot is exactly, but if you mean that I've lived with
women and been drunk, and lost jobs because I didn't do the work, and
been generally on the loose, it's true, of course. But I meant to live
decently when I came home. Yes, I did. You can sneer as much as you
like. Why didn't you help me? You're my sister, aren't you? And now I
don't care what I do. You've all given me up. Well, give me up, and
I'll just go to bits as fast as I can go! If you don't want me there
are others who do, or at any rate the bit of money I've got. You've
kept me from the only decent girl I've ever known, the one I could have
been straight with--"

"Straight with!" Amy broke in. "How were you going to be straight if
you're married already?"

He would have answered her but a sound behind him made him turn. He
wheeled round and saw his father standing almost up against him. He had
only time for a horrified vision of the ghostlike figure, the staring
eyes, the open mouth, the white cheeks. The old man caught his coat.

"Martin, what was that? What did you say? ... No, no ... I can't bear
that now. I can't, I can't."

He turned and made as though he would run up the stairs, catching about
him like a child the shabby old dressing-gown that he was wearing. At
the first step he stumbled, clutching the bannister to save himself.

Martin rushed to him, putting his arms round him, holding him close to
him. "It's all right, father ... It's not true what you heard ... It's
all right."

His father turned, putting his arms round his neck.

Martin half helped, half carried him up to his bedroom. He laid him on
his bed and then, holding his hand, sat by his side all through the
long dim afternoon.

About, five Warlock suddenly revived, sat up, arid with the assistance
of Martin dressed properly, had some tea, and went down to his study.
He sat down in his chair, then suddenly looking up at his son he said:

"Did you and Amy have a quarrel this afternoon?"

"No, father," said Martin.

"That's right. I thought--I thought ... I don't know ... My head's
confused. You've been a good boy, Martin, haven't you? There's no need
for me to worry, is there?"

"None, father," Martin said.

After a while Martin said:

"Father, don't go to Chapel to-night."

Warlock smiled.

"I must go. That's all right