hat the conditions in which his life was
spent were mean, sordid, demoralising; fatal to all that was true and
beautiful. The lad also gave it as his opinion that, so far from
regarding money as a worthy object for a life's ambition, the true lover
of Nature would be cumbered by the possession of more than was
absolutely necessary for food and clothing. And as for neglecting a
God-given gift--

"What authority have you for asking me to believe that the gift exists
at all, except in your own imagination? Tell me that, if you please!"
cried the father. "You spend a small income in stamps and paper, but so
far as I know no human creature can be induced to publish your God-given
rhymes!"

At this point matters became decidedly strained, and a serious quarrel
might have developed, had it not been for the diplomatic intervention of
Margot, the youngest and fairest of Mr Vane's three daughters.

Margot pinched her father's ears and kissed him on the end of his nose,
a form of caress which he seemed to find extremely soothing.

"He is only twenty-one, darling," she said, referring to the turbulent
heir. "You ought to be thankful that he has such good tastes, instead
of drinking and gambling, like some other young men. Really and truly I
believe he is a genius, but even if he is not, there is nothing to be
gained by using force. Ron has a very strong will--you have yourself,
you know, dear, only of course in your case it is guided by judgment and
common sense--and you will never drive him into doing a thing against
his will. Now just suppose you let him go his own way for a time! Six
months or a year can't matter so very much out of a lifetime, and you
will never regret erring on the side of kindness."

"Since when, may I ask, have you set yourself up as your father's
mentor?" cried that gentleman with a growl; but he was softening
obviously, and Margot knew as much, and pinched his nose for a change.

"You must try to remember how you felt yourself when you were young. If
you wanted a thing, how _badly_ you wanted it, and how _soon_, and how
terribly cruel every one seemed who interfered! Give Ron a chance, like
the dear old sportsman as you are, before you tie him down for life!
It's a pity I'm not a boy--I should have loved to be at Lloyd's. Even
now--if I went round with the slips, and coaxed the underwriters, don't
you think it might be a striking and lucrative innovation?"

Mr Vane laughed at that, and r