t want your boys to break their necks, some
one ought certainly to interfere outside there."

"That is exactly what I expected," said Mrs Fred. "My poor children
can't have a little amusement, poor things, but somebody must interfere
with it; and my poor Fred--perhaps you have some fault to find with him,
Mr Edward? Oh, I can see it in your looks! so please take your advantage,
now that there's nobody to be afraid of. I can tell you have ever so
many pleasant things just on your lips to say."

"I wish you'd mind your own business, Susan," said her husband, who was
not a fool. "Look after these imps there, and let me and Edward alone.
Nettie's gone out, you understand. She's a wonderful creature, to be
sure, but it's a blessed relief to get rid of her for a little. A man
can't breathe under her sharp eyes," said Fred, half apologetic, half
defiant, as he breathed out a puff of smoke.

Edward Rider stared at his brother, speechless with rage and indignation.
He could have rushed upon that listless figure, and startled the life half
out of the nerveless slovenly frame. The state of mingled resentment,
disappointment, and disgust he was in, made every particular of this
aggravating scene tell more emphatically. To see that heavy vapour
obscuring those walls which breathed of Nettie--to think of this one
little centre of her life, which always hitherto had borne in some
degree the impress of her womanly image, so polluted and vulgarised,
overpowered the young man's patience. Yet perhaps he of all men in the
world had least right to interfere.

"How is it possible," burst forth the doctor all at once, "that you can
live upon that creature, Fred? If you have the heart of a mouse in that
big body of yours--if you are not altogether lost and degraded, how can
you do it? And, by Jove, when all is done, to go and fill the only room
she has--the only place you have left her--with this disgusting smoke
and noise as soon as her back is turned! Good heaven! it sickens one to
think of it. A fellow like you, as strong as any hodman, to let such a
creature sacrifice herself to keep him in bread; and the only bit of a
little place she can sit down in when she comes home--It's too much, you
know--it's more than she ought to bear."

"And who are you, to meddle with us and our arrangements?" cried Mrs
Fred. "My husband is in his own house. You would not take us into your
house, Mr Edward----"

"Hold your confounded tongue, I tell you,"