I believe I was the owner of some fifteen shillings in the
world."

A deep, tremulous sigh was all her answer.

"Fifteen and ninepence," muttered he, as he counted over the pieces in
his hand. "Great must be the self-reliance of the man who, with such
a sum for all his worldly wealth, insults his patrons and resigns his
office,--eh, Grace?"

There was in his tone a blended mockery and seriousness that he often
used, and which, by the impossibility of answering, always distressed
her greatly.

"It is clear you do not think so," said he, harshly. "It is evident
you take the vulgar view of the incident, and condemn the act as one
dictated by ill temper and mere resentment. The world is always more
merciful than one's own fireside, and the world will justify me."

"When you have satisfied your own conscience, Herbert--"

"I'll take good care to make no such appeal," broke he in. "Besides,"
added he, with a bitter levity, "men like myself have not one, but fifty
consciences. Their after-dinner conscience is not their waking one next
morning; their conscience in the turmoil and bustle of life is not their
conscience as they lie out there on the white rocks, listening to the
lazy plash of the waves. Not to say that, after forty, every man's
conscience grows casuistical,--somewhat the worse for wear, like
himself."

It was one of Layton's pastimes to sport thus with the feelings of his
poor wife, uttering at random sentiments that he well knew must pain her
deeply; and there were days when this spirit of annoyance overbore his
reason and mastered all his self-control.

"What pleasant little sketches Alfred gives of his travelling
acquaintances!" said she, opening the letter, and almost asking to be
invited to read it.

"These things have no value from one as untried in life as he is," broke
he in, rudely. "One only learns to decipher character by the time the
world has become very wearisome. Does he tell you how he likes his task?
How does he fancy bear-leading?"

"He praises Lord Agincourt very much. He calls him a fine, generous boy,
with many most attaching qualities."

"They are nearly all such in that class in very early life, but, as
Swift says, the world is full of promising princes and bad kings."

"Lord Agincourt would appear to be very much attached to Alfred."

"So much the worse; such friendships interfere with the work of tuition,
and they never endure after it is over. To be sure, now and then a t