re good fruit in a
perceptible softening of his over-confident manner and a more distinct
show of consideration for his mother and sister. Little by little he
drew from Lettice the story of her past anxieties, of his father's
efforts and privations, of his mother's suffering at the loss of
luxuries to which she had always been accustomed--suffering silently
borne because it was borne for Sydney. Lettice spared him as far as she
could; but there was much that she was obliged to tell, as she had been
for so long the depositary of her father's secrets and his cares.
Man-like, Sydney showed his sorrow by exceeding sharpness of tone.

"Why did you not write to me? Why was I never told?"

"I told you as much as I dared, when I was in London."

"As much as you _dared_?"

"Dear father would not let me tell very much. He laid his commands on me
to say nothing."

"You should have disobeyed him," said Sydney marching up and down the
darkened study, in which this conference took place. "It was your duty
to have disobeyed him, for his own good----"

"Oh, Sydney, how can you talk to me of duty?" said Lettice, with a sob.
"Why did you not come and see for yourself? Why did you stay away so
long?"

The reproach cut deeper than she knew. "I thought I was acting for the
best," said the young man, half defiantly, half apologetically. "I did
what it was the desire of his heart that I should do--But you, you were
at home; you saw it all, and you should have told me, Lettice."

"I did try," she answered meekly, "but it was not very easy to make you
listen."

In other circumstances he would, perhaps, have retorted angrily; and
Lettice felt that it said much for the depth of his sorrow for the past
that he did not carry his self-defence any further. By and by he paused
in his agitated walk up and down the room, with head bent and hands
plunged deep into his pockets. After two or three moments' silence,
Lettice crept up to him and put her hand within his arm.

"Forgive me, Sydney, I spoke too bitterly; but it has been very hard
sometimes."

"I would have helped if I had known," said Sydney gloomily.

"I know you would, dear. And he always knew it, too. That was the reason
why he told me to keep silence--for fear of hampering you in your
career. He has often said to me that he wished to keep the knowledge of
his difficulties from you, because he knew you would be generous and
kind----"

Tears choked her voice. Her brother, who h