
near. Forgive me if I seem a little precipitate. The privilege is so
inestimable.«
    Richard made no answer, and Mr. Keene forthwith took his leave, suave to the
last. When he was gone, Richard went to the dining-room, where his mother was
sitting. Mrs. Mutimer would have given much to be allowed to sit in the kitchen;
she had a room of her own upstairs, but there she felt too remote from the
centre of domestic operations, and the dining-room was a compromise. Her chair
was always placed in a rather dusky corner; she generally had sewing on her lap,
but the consciousness that her needle was not really in demand, and that she
might just as well have sat idle, troubled her habits of mind. She often had the
face of one growing prematurely aged.
    »I hope you won't let them bring anyone they like,« Richard said to her.
»I've sent that fellow about his business; he's here for no good. He mustn't
come again.«
    »They won't heed me,« replied Mrs. Mutimer, using the tone of little
interest with which she was accustomed to speak of details of the new order.
    »Well, then, they've got to heed you, and I'll have that understood. - Why
didn't 'Arry go to work to day?«
    »Didn't want to, I s'pose.«
    »Has he stayed at home often lately?«
    »Not at 'ome, but I expect he doesn't always go to work.«
    »Will you go and sit with Alice in the front room? I'll have a talk with
him.«
    'Arry came whistling at the summons. There was a nasty look on his face, the
look which in his character corresponded to Richard's resoluteness. His brother
eyed him.
    »Look here, 'Arry,« the elder began, »I want this explaining. What do you
mean by shirking your work?«
    There was no reply. 'Arry strode to the window and leaned against the side
of it, in the attitude of a Sunday loafer waiting for the dram-shop to open.
    »If this goes on,« Richard pursued, »you'll find yourself in your old
position again. I've gone to a good deal of trouble to give you a start, and it
seems to me you ought to show a better spirit. We'd better have an
understanding;
