so, he was quite right. No message could be of any use.
It has been my own doing, and I have no right to blame him. Mamma, if
you don't mind, I think I'll go to bed."

"My dear, you're wrong. I'm sure you're wrong. He didn't mean that."

"Didn't he, mamma?" And as she spoke a sad, weary, wobegone smile
came over her face,--a smile so sad and piteous that it went to her
mother's heart more keenly than would have done any sound of sorrow,
any sobs, or wail of grief. "But I think he did mean that, mamma.
It's no good doubting or fearing any longer. It's all over now."

"And it has been my fault!"

"No, dearest. It has not been your fault, nor do I think that it has
been mine. I think we'd better not talk of faults. Ah dear;--I do
wish he had never come here!"

"Perhaps it may be all well yet, Rachel."

"Perhaps it may,--in another world. It will never be well again for
me in this. Good-night, mamma. You must never think that I am angry
with you."

Then she went up stairs, leaving Mrs. Ray alone with her sorrow.

CHAPTER VII.

DOMESTIC POLITICS AT THE BREWERY.

In the mean time things were not going on very pleasantly at the
brewery, and Mr. Tappitt was making himself unpleasant in the
bosom of his family. A lawsuit will sometimes make a man extremely
pleasant company to his wife and children. Even a losing lawsuit will
sometimes do so, if he be well backed up in his pugnacity by his
lawyer, and if the matter of the battle be one in which he can take
a delight to fight. "Ah," a man will say, "though I spend a thousand
pounds over it, I'll stick to him like a burr. He shan't shake me
off." And at such times he is almost sure to be in a good humour,
and in a generous mood. Then let his wife ask him for money for
a dinner-party, and his daughters for new dresses. He has taught
himself for the moment to disregard money, and to think that he can
sow five-pound notes broadcast without any inward pangs. But such was
by no means the case with Mr. Tappitt. His lawyer Honyman was not
backing him up; and as cool reflection came upon him he was afraid of
trusting his interests to those other men, Sharpit and Longfite. And
Mrs. Tappitt, when cool reflection came on her, had begun to dread
the ruin which it seemed possible that terrible young man might
inflict upon them. She had learned already, though Mrs. Ray had not,
how false had been that report which had declared Luke Rowan to
be frivolous, idle, and in debt.