R.

"Of course," said Uncle Rutherford, that evening in family conclave,
"this business settles the question of that scholarship for Theodore
Yorke. He has proved himself more utterly without principle or common
honesty, than I could have believed possible; and while, for poor old
Yorke's sake, I should be glad to give him another chance of redeeming
his character, I do not feel that the boy himself is worthy of it. He
is radically bad and vicious, with a natural leaning toward deceit and
dishonesty, and a capacity for crime that is absolutely startling, or
he never could have arranged so deliberate a plan to obtain money from
these poor little cripples. It was absolute blackmailing; and the
Yorkes, I fear, have sad trouble in store for them with the boy. All
the better for your _protege_, Milly, if he continues to do as well as
he has done lately. That fellow is in earnest, whatever may be the aims
and influences which control him."

"I think," said aunt Emily, "that Mrs. Yorke is right, and that it
would be best both for the captain and for Theodore to go home. The old
man keeps her in a constant worry, by his very innocence and
simplicity, which are so easily imposed upon; and it will be far better
for that boy to be where he is not surrounded by so many temptations.
Do you not think so, Nicholas? Better for him to be in his quiet,
out-of-the-way home, than here, where there are so many inducements to
evil for a boy without principle, such as has certainly proved
himself."

Before Uncle Rutherford had time either to agree or dissent, Thomas
announced that Captain Yorke wished to see Mr. Rutherford and Mr.
Livingstone, and was told to show the old man into the adjoining
library, whither papa and Uncle Rutherford adjourned to see him.

But through the half-drawn portieres, the rest of us heard all that
passed; and, indeed, the captain was not reticent,--it was not in his
nature to be,--and he would have been quite as garrulous in the
presence of an audience of any size, provided he knew all his hearers
to be friends. And not even the gravity of his errand, or the subject
on which he held forth, could restrain him from the various deviations
and wanderings to which he was prone when talking. It will not be
necessary to repeat all these here.

The old man had gone back to Johnny Petersen's just as the florist was
closing his shop for the night, timing his second visit after the hour
at which he knew the cripples