en in to your wishes for three whole years, though, from his
point of view, it was waste of time. He has worked hard and not
grumbled, so that he has kept every word of his promise. Now he asks
you to fulfil yours. I am sure you must feel sad and disappointed, but
I don't think you ought to be angry with Rex, or call him undutiful."

"Eh--eh, what's this? Are you going to side against me? This is a
pretty state of affairs. I thought I could count upon your help, and
the boy would have listened to what you said. Well, well, I don't know
what is coming over the young folk nowadays! Do you mean to say that
you _approve_ of Rex going abroad?"

"Yes, I do! It is better to be a good planter than a bad lawyer," said
Norah steadily; and the Squire pursed up his lips in silence.

The girl's words had appealed to his pet theory, and done more to
silence objections than any amount of arguing. The Squire was always
lecturing other people on the necessity of doing the humblest work as
well as it was possible for it to be done, and had been known on
occasions to stand still in the middle of a country lane, brandishing
his stick while he treated a gang of stone-breakers to a dissertation on
the dignity of labour. The thought that his son might perform his
duties in an unsatisfactory manner was even more distasteful than the
prospect of separation.

"Well, well," he sighed irritably, "no one need envy a man for having
children! They are nothing but trouble and anxiety from beginning to
end. It's better to be without them at all."

"You don't mean what you say. You know quite well you would not give up
your son and daughter for all the money in the world. You love Edna all
the more because she needs so much care, and you are just as proud of
Rex as you can be. Of course he is self-willed and determined, but if
you could change him into a weak, undecided creature like the vicar's
son, you would be very sorry to do it!"

"You seem to know a great deal about my sentiments, young lady," said
the Squire, trying hard to look ferocious. Then his shoulders heaved,
and he drew a long, weary sigh. "Well, my last hope has gone if you
range yourself against me. The boy must go and bury himself at the ends
of the earth. Goodness knows when he will come back, and I am getting
old. Ten to one I may never see him again!"

"It will be your own fault if you don't. Westmoreland is sweet and
beautiful, but if I had no ties and