care of him, you
know - some one to keep house. And we shall never, either of us, be married. And
I should cost nothing, and I should be so happy. I know it would be hard to
leave you and mamma; but there are all the others to bring up, and we two should
be no trouble to you any more.«
    Anna had risen from her seat, and used the feminine argument of going closer
to her papa as she spoke. He did not smile, but he drew her on his knee and held
her there, as if to put her gently out of the question while he spoke to Rex.
    »You will admit that my experience gives me some power of judging for you,
and that I can probably guide you in practical matters better than you can guide
yourself?«
    Rex was obliged to say, »Yes, sir.«
    »And perhaps you will admit - though I don't wish to press that point - that
you are bound in duty to consider my judgment and wishes?«
    »I have never yet placed myself in opposition to you, sir.« Rex in his
secret soul could not feel that he was bound not to go to the colonies, but to
go to Oxford again - which was the point in question.
    »But you will do so if you persist in setting your mind towards a rash and
foolish procedure, and deafening yourself to considerations which my experience
of life assures me of. You think, I suppose, that you have had a shock which has
changed all your inclinations, stupefied your brains, unfitted you for anything
but manual labour, and given you a dislike to society? Is that what you
believe?«
    »Something like that. I shall never be up to the sort of work I must do to
live in this part of the world. I have not the spirit for it. I shall never be
the same again. And without any disrespect to you, father, I think a young
fellow should be allowed to choose his way of life, if he does nobody any harm.
There are plenty to stay at home, and those who like might be allowed to go
where there are empty places.«
    »But suppose I am convinced on good evidence - as I am - that this state of
mind of yours is transient, and that if you went off as you propose, you would
by-and-by repent, and feel that you had let yourself slip back from the point
you have been gaining by your education till now? Have you not