said the prodigal son. "They would never
give me a hearing. They say I did heaps of things I never dreamt of.
Mary aint above thinking of her own interest--"

Here Mr Proctor came forward from the middle of the room where he had
been standing in a perplexed manner since the ladies went away.
"Hold--hold your tongue, sir!" said the late Rector; "haven't you done
enough injury already--" When he had said so much, he stopped as
abruptly as he had begun, and seemed to recollect all at once that he
had no title to interfere.

"By Jove!" said Wodehouse, "you don't seem to think I know what
belongs to me, or who belongs to me. Hold _your_ tongue, Waters; I can
speak for myself. I've been long enough snubbed by everybody that had
a mind. I don't mean to put up with this sort of thing any longer. Any
man who pleases can consult John Brown. I recollect John Brown as well
as anybody in Carlingford. It don't matter to me what he says, or what
anybody says. The girls are a parcel of girls, and I am my father's
son, as it happens. I should have thought the parson had enough on his
hands for one while," said the new heir, in the insolence of triumph.
"He tried patronising me, but that wouldn't answer. Why, there's his
brother, Jack Wentworth, his elder brother, come down here purposely
to manage matters for me. He's the eldest son, by Jove! and one of the
greatest swells going. He has come down here on purpose to do the
friendly thing by me. We're great friends, by Jove! Jack Wentworth and
I; and yet here's a beggarly younger brother, that hasn't a penny--"

"Wodehouse," said Mr Wentworth, with some contempt, "sit down and be
quiet. You and I have some things to talk of which had better not be
discussed in public. Leave Jack Wentworth's name alone, if you are
wise, and don't imagine that I am going to bear your punishment. Be
silent, sir!" cried the Curate, sternly; "do you suppose I ask any
explanations from you? Mr Waters, I want to hear how this has come
about? When I saw you in this man's interest some time ago, you were
not so friendly to him. Tell me how it happens that he is now your
client, and that you set him forth as the heir!"

"By Jove, the parson has nothing to do with it! Let him find it out,"
muttered Wodehouse in his beard; but the words were only half audible,
and the vagabond's shabby soul was cowed in spite of himself. He gave
the lawyer a furtive thrust in the arm as he spoke, and looked at him
a little anxiou