ct to have a water-mill on
the lawn before long," said Augustus. "These mechanics have it all their
own way. If they were to come and tell me that they intended to put up a
wind-mill in my bedroom to-morrow morning, I could only take off my hat
to them. When a man offers you five per cent. where you've only had
four, he is instantly your lord and master. It doesn't signify how
vulgar he is, or how insolent, or how exacting. Associations of the
tenderest kind must all give way to trade. But the shooting which lies
to the north and west of us is, I think, safe for the present. I suppose
I must go and see what my father wants, or I shall be held to have
neglected my duty to my affectionate parent."

"Capital fellow, Augustus Scarborough," said Jones, as soon as their
host had left them.

"I was at Cambridge with him, and he was popular there."

"He'll be more popular now that he's the heir to Tretton. I don't know
any fellow that I can get along better with than Scarborough. I think
you were a little hard upon him about his father, you know."

"In his position he ought to hold his tongue."

"It's the strangest thing that has turned up in the whole course of my
experience. You see, if he didn't talk about it people wouldn't quite
understand what it was that his father has done. It's only matter of
report now, and the creditors, no doubt, do believe that when old
Scarborough goes off the hooks they will be able to walk in and take
possession. He has got to make the world think that he is the heir, and
that will go a long way. You may be sure he doesn't talk as he does
without having a reason for it. He's the last man I know to do anything
without a reason."

The evening dragged along very slowly while Jones continued to tell all
that he knew of his friend's character. But Augustus Scarborough did not
return, and soon after ten o'clock, when Harry Annesley could smoke no
more cigars, and declared that he had no wish to begin upon
brandy-and-water after his wine, he went to his bed.

CHAPTER VIII.

HARRY ANNESLEY TAKES A WALK.

"There was the devil to pay with my father last night after I went to
him," said Scarborough to Harry next morning. "He now and then suffers
agonies of pain, and it is the most difficult thing in the world to get
him right again. But anything equal to his courage I never before met."

"How is he this morning?"

"Very weak and unable to exert himself. But I cannot say that he is
oth