! Then must the young man become a tradesman in order
to show respect for his father? Preposterous! That was the lady's natural inward
exclamation. She said, rather shrewdly, for one who knew nothing of such things:
»But a business which produces debts so enormous, Mrs. Harrington!«
    The widow replied: »My son will have to conduct it in a different way. It
would be a very good business, conducted properly, my lady.«
    »But if he has no taste for it, Mrs. Harrington? If he is altogether
superior to it?«
    For the first time during the interview, the widow's inflexible countenance
was mildly moved, though not to any mild expression.
    »My son will have not to consult his tastes,« she observed: and seeing the
lady, after a short silence, quit her seat, she rose likewise, and touched the
fingers of the hand held forth to her, bowing.
    »You will pardon the interest I take in your son,« said Lady Roseley. »I
hope, indeed, that his relatives and friends will procure him the means of
satisfying the demands made upon him.«
    »He would still have to pay them, my lady,« was the widow's answer.
    »Poor young man! indeed I pity him!« sighed her visitor. »You have hitherto
used no efforts to persuade him to take such a step, Mrs. Harrington?«
    »I have written to Mr. Goren, who was my husband's fellow-apprentice in
London, my lady; and he is willing to instruct him in cutting, and measuring,
and keeping accounts.«
    Certain words in this speech were obnoxious to the fine ear of Lady Roseley,
and she relinquished the subject.
    »Your husband, Mrs. Harrington - I should so much have wished! - he did not
pass away in - in pain!«
    »He died very calmly, my lady.«
    »It is so terrible, so disfiguring, sometimes. One dreads to see! - one can
hardly distinguish! I have known cases where death was dreadful! But a peaceful
death is very beautiful! There is nothing shocking to the mind. It suggests
heaven! It seems a fulfilment of our prayers!«
    »Would your ladyship like to look upon him?« said the widow.
    Lady Roseley betrayed a sudden gleam at having her desire thus intuitively
fathomed.
    »For one moment, Mrs. Harrington! We esteemed him so much! May I?«
    The widow responded by opening the door
