is morning, who
said he should come to-morrow and take the things away."

When he heard this, Sydney lost his self-command, and spoke certain
words for which he never quite forgave himself. No doubt the blow was a
heavy one, and he realized immediately all that it implied. But he did
not foresee the effect of the harsh and bitter words which he flung at
his father and sister, charging them with reckless extravagance, and
declaring that their selfishness had ruined his whole career.

Lettice was stung to the quick, not so much by her brother's unjust
accusations as by the suffering which they inflicted on her father. His
childishness had increased upon him so much of late that he was in
truth, at this moment, more like a boy under correction than a father in
presence of his children. He buried his face in his hands, and Lettice
heard a piteous groan.

Then she stood beside him, laid her arm upon his neck, and faced Sydney
with indignant eyes.

"Look!" she said. "This is your work. Can you not see and understand?
You accuse him of selfishness--him, whose life has been one long
sacrifice for you! I tell you, Sydney, that your cruel neglect, your
ingrained love of self, have dragged our father down to this. He gave
you all that you have, and made you all that you are, and when you
should have come to his succor, and secured for him a happy old age, you
have left him all these years to struggle with the poverty to which you
reduced him. He never murmured--he will never blame you as long as he
lives--he is as proud of you to-day as he was ten years ago--and you
dare, you _dare_ to reproach him!"

Lettice ended in magnificent wrath; and, then, being a woman after all,
she knelt by her father's side and burst into tears.

If Sydney's pride had not got the better of him he would have owned the
justice of her words, and all might have been well. Instead of that, he
went to his room, brooding upon his misfortune, and soothing his wounded
feelings in an intense self-pity.

And next morning, when he came remorsefully to his father's bedside,
intending to assure him that he would make it the first business of his
life to rescue him from his difficulties, he found him rescued indeed,
with placid face and silent heart, over which the cares of earth had no
further dominion.

CHAPTER V.

SEVERANCE.

The rector's death was a terrible shock to Sydney. For a time his
remorse for his own conduct was very great, and it bo