, as his son said in a very
contemptuous, unfilial way to his mother--

"He's better in health than temper, and if things are going on like this
I shall be off somewhere, for I'm sick of it."

For there had been quarrels daily between father and son, stormings
against wife and servants, and poor Pringle the clerk had vowed to
himself that he would not stay at the office for another week; but he
always stayed, for there were reasons at home against his throwing
himself out of work.

So Uncle James sat in his private room at the Gray's Inn office, looking
old, yellow, and biting his nails, like the ancient ogre, sometimes
making up his mind in one direction, sometimes in another.

At last he touched his table gong, and, as quickly as he could get
there, Pringle presented himself.

"You ring, sir?"

"You know I rang, sir," cried Uncle James savagely. "Send him here
directly."

"Cert'ny, sir, but--er--"

"I said send him here."

"Yes, sir. Who, sir?"

"Mr Samuel, you blockhead. Didn't you hear what I said?"

"Yes, sir; but Mr Samuel's not in the office, sir."

"Bah!" ejaculated his employer; and Pringle made his escape.

Ten minutes later Sam entered the place, and the clerk whispered to him
sharply--

"Gov'nor wants you, sir. Awful temper, sir."

"Oh, is he?" said Sam sullenly. And then to himself--"I'm not going to
take any of his nonsense, so I tell him."

Pulling down his cuffs, and looking very pugnacious, he entered the
private room ready to repel an attack, but to his surprise, his father,
who the minute before had been seated looking very irresolute, now
became very determined, and pointed to a chair.

"Sit down, my boy," he said in a low voice.

Sam felt relieved, and he drew forward a chair.

"Sam, my boy," continued James Brandon, "I'm in terrible trouble."

"What about, father--money?" James Brandon nodded.

"I've been too hasty, my boy. I was very ill, and I did what I should
not have done in calmer moments."

There was a pause, and Sam waited, wondering what was to come next.

"You remember my sending for your cousin to come up?"

"Yes, father; you sent me away on business," said Sam, in rather a
sneering tone, "so as to get me out of the way, but I heard all about it
afterwards."

"All about it?" said his father, with an anxious look.

"I suppose so," replied Sam carelessly.

"No, my boy, you did not," said his father, leaning forward and taking
his son by the coat a