ur had of late,
however, been giving it as his opinion that his daughter would not
marry. He had decided that she was not the marrying sort, and told
Raymond as much.

"The married state's too limited for her: her energies are too
tremendous to leave any time for being a wife. To bottle Estelle down to
a husband and children is impossible. They wouldn't be enough for her
intellect."

This had been said some time before, when unconscious of Ironsyde's
growing emotions; but of late he had suspected them and was, therefore,
more guarded in his prophecies.

Then came a shock, which delayed progress, for Abel thrust himself to
the front of his mind again. Estelle corresponded with her new friend,
and the boy had heard from her that in future he must thank his father
for his education. She felt that it was time he knew this, and hoped
that he would now be sane enough to let the fact influence him. It did,
but not as she had expected. Instead there came the news that Abel had
been expelled. He deliberately refused to proceed with his work, and,
when challenged, explained that he would learn no more at his father's
expense.

Nothing moved him, and Estelle's well-meant but ill-judged action
merely served to terminate Abel's education for good and all.

The boy was rapidly becoming a curse to his father. Puritans, who knew
the story, welcomed its development and greeted each phase with
religious enthusiasm; but others felt the situation to be growing
absurd. Raymond himself so regarded it, and when Abel returned home
again he insisted on seeing him.

"You can be present if you wish to be," he told Sabina, but she
expressed no such desire. Her attitude was modified of late, and,
largely under the influence of Estelle, she began to see the futility of
this life-enmity declared against Raymond by her son. Of old she had
thought it natural, and while not supporting it had made no effort to
crush it out of him. Now she perceived that it could come to nothing and
only breed bitterness. She had, therefore, begun to tone her
indifference and withhold the little bitter speeches that only fortified
Abel's hate. She had even argued with him--lamely enough--and advised
him not to persist in a dislike of his father that could not serve him
in after life.

But he had continued to rejoice in his hatred. While Estelle hoped with
Sabina to break down his obstinacy, he actually looked forward to the
time when Estelle would hate his enemy