 always expected that the girl would be a source of more serious trouble
the older she grew. He sat in silence, leaning forward, his eyes bent down.
    »It's no good whatever I say,« lamented Hewett. »They don't heed me. Why
must I have children like these? Haven't I always done my best to teach them to
be honest and good-hearted? If I'd spent my life in the worst ways a man can,
they couldn't have turned out more worthless. Haven't I wished always what was
right and good and true? Haven't I always spoke up for justice in the world?
Haven't I done what I could, Sidney, to be helpful to them as fell into
misfortune? And now in my old age I'm only a burden, and the children as come
after me are nothing but a misery to all as have to do with them. If it wasn't
for Clara I feel I couldn't live my time out. She's the one that pays me back
for the love I've given her. All the others - I can't feel as they're children
of mine at all.«
    It was a strange and touching thing that he seemed nowadays utterly to have
forgotten Clara's past. Invariably he spoke of her as if she had at all times
been his stay and comfort. The name of his son who was dead never passed his
lips, but of Clara he could not speak too long or too tenderly.
    
    »I can't think what to do,« Sidney said. »If I talk to her in a
fault-finding way, she'll only dislike me the more; she feels I've no business
to interfere.«
    »You're too soft with them. You spoil them. Why, there's one of them broken
a pane in the kitchen to-day, and they know you'll take it quiet, like you do
everything else.«
    Sidney wrinkled his brow. These petty expenses, ever repeated, were just
what made the difficulty in his budget; he winced whenever such demands
encroached upon the poor weekly income of which every penny was too little for
the serious needs of the family. Feeling that if he sat and thought much longer
a dark mood would seize upon him, he rose hastily.
    »I shall try kindness with her. Don't say anything more in her hearing.«
    He went to the kitchen-door, and cried
