ible, with an eye to their
wages and perquisites. It might be all very well for Jack Stuart, who
had nothing in the world to lose but his life and his yacht; but his
noble friend thought that any such venture on the part of Sir Hugh was
simply tomfoolery. But Sir Hugh was an obstinate man, and none of the
Claverings were easily made afraid by personal danger. Jack Stuart might
know nothing about the management of a boat, but Archie did. And as for
the smallness of the craft--he knew of a smaller craft which had been
out on the Norway coast during the whole of the last season. So he drove
that thought away from his mind, with no strong feelings of gratitude
toward his noble friend.

And then for a few moments he thought of his own home. What had his wife
done for him, that he should put himself out of his way to do much for
her? She had brought him no money. She had added nothing, either by her
wit, beauty, or rank, to his position in the world. She had given him no
heir. What had he received from her that he should endure her
commonplace conversation, and washed-out, dowdy prettinesses? Perhaps
some momentary feeling of compassion, some twinge of conscience, came
across his heart, as he thought of it all; but if so he checked it
instantly, in accordance with the teachings of his whole life, He had
made his reflections on all these things, and had tutored his mind to
certain resolutions, and would not allow himself to be carried away by
any womanly softness. She had her house, her carriage, her bed, her
board, and her clothes; and seeing how very little she herself had
contributed to the common fund, her husband determined that in having
those things she had all that she had a right to claim. Then he drank a
glass of sherry, and went into the drawing-room with that hard smile
upon his face, which he was accustomed to wear when he intended to
signify to his wife that she might as well make the best of existing
things, and not cause unnecessary trouble, by giving herself airs or
assuming that she was unhappy.

He had his cup of coffee, and she had her cup of tea, and she made one
or two little attempts at saying something special--something that might
lead to a word or two as to their parting; but she was careful and
crafty, and she was awkward and timid--and she failed. He had hardly
been there an hour, when looking at his watch he declared that it was
ten o'clock, and that he would go to bed. Well; perhaps it might be b