stianity had ever been invented. You have got nasty
murderous thoughts in your mind, and want to kill poor Mr Crasweller,
just out of pride, because you have said you would. Now, Jack is
determined that you shan't, and I say that he is right. There is no
reason why Jack shouldn't obey me as well as you. You will never
be able to deposit Mr Crasweller,--not if you try it for a hundred
years. The city won't let you do it; and if you have a grain of sense
left in your head, you won't attempt it. Jack is determined to meet
the men on the Town Flags the day after to-morrow, and I say that he
is right. As for your disinheriting him, and spending all your money
on machinery to roast pigs,--I say you can't do it. There will be a
commission to inquire into you if you do not mind yourself, and then
you will remember what I told you. Poor Mr Crasweller, whom you have
known for forty years! I wonder how you can bring yourself to think
of killing the poor man, whose bread you have so often eaten! And if
you think you are going to frighten Jack, you are very much mistaken.
Jack would do twice more for Eva Crasweller than for you or me, and
it's natural he should. You may be sure he will not give up; and
the end will be, that he will get Eva for his own. I do believe
he has gone to sleep." Then I gave myself infinite credit for the
pertinacity of my silence, and for the manner in which I had put
on an appearance of somnolency without overacting the part. Mrs
Neverbend did in truth go to sleep, but I lay awake during the whole
night thinking of the troubles before me.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE "JOHN BRIGHT."

Jack, of course, did not go to New Zealand, and I was bound to
quarrel with him,--temporarily. They held the meeting on the Town
Flags, and many eloquent words were, no doubt, spoken. I did not go,
of course, nor did I think it well to read the reports. Mrs Neverbend
took it into her head at this time to speak to me only respecting the
material wants of life. "Will you have another lump of sugar in your
tea, Mr President?" Or, "If you want a second blanket on your bed,
Mr Neverbend, and will say the word, it shall be supplied." I took
her in the same mood, and was dignified, cautious, and silent. With
Jack I was supposed to have quarrelled altogether, and very grievous
it was to me not to be able to speak to the lad of a morning or an
evening. But he did not seem to be much the worse for it. As for
turning him out of the hou