“I don’t know what will become of Archie,” the sick man said, speaking very slowly.  “I shall leave him nothing but Stoneleigh, with a mortgage on it for four hundred pounds, and a little annuity which came through his mother.  Strange, that from dear little Dora, who, when I married her, had nothing but her sweet voice and sweeter face, the boy should inherit all the ready money he can ever have, unless you or our sister Betsey open your hearts to him.  You used to fancy the boy, and talked once of adopting him, when I had that fever at Pau, and you came to see me.”

Here Lady Jane’s long neck arched itself more proudly, and John felt how intently she was awaiting his reply.

“Yes, Hugh,” he said, “I like the boy.  He is bright and intelligent; and I did think of adopting him once, but that was before Neil came.  Now I have a son, which makes a difference.  I cannot take Archie, or do very much for him either.  You know I have very little money of my own, and I have no right to spend Lady Jane’s.”

Here the willowy figure near the window bent very low over the roses, as if satisfied with the turn matters were taking, as John went on: 

“As his uncle and guardian, I will see to him, of course, and will write to our sister, asking her to do something for him.  Perhaps she will invite him to come to her in America, and if so, what are your wishes?  Shall I let him go?”

The invalid hesitated a moment, while his common sense fought with the old hereditary pride of blood and birth, which would keep one in the rank to which it had pleased God to call him, even if he starved there.  The latter gained the victory, and Hugh replied: 

I would rather Archie should not go to America if there is any other way.  Betsey is very peculiar in her ideas, and would as soon apprentice him to a shoemaker as anything else.  In the last letter I received from her, she advised me to put him to some trade, and to break stone myself on the highway, rather than do nothing.  No, Archie must not go to America, he may marry well, if you and Lady Jane look after him; and you will, John.  You will have a care for my boy when I am gone, and, oh, never, never let him go near the gaming-table.  That has been my ruin.  Keep him from that, whatever you do.”

“Why not require a promise from him to that effect?  He is a truthful boy; he will keep his word,” John said, and Hugh replied: 

“Yes, yes, that’s it; strange I never thought of it before.  I will send for him at once.  Call Anthony to fetch him; and, oh, John, I owe Anthony fifty pounds; money borrowed at different times from his hard earnings.  You will see that he is paid?”

“Yes,” John answered, promptly; for Anthony, who had been at Stoneleigh since he was a boy, and had been so much to him, was his favorite, and should not suffer.

He would pay Anthony; but when his brother mentioned other debts owing to the trades-people in Bangor, and Beaumaris, and even Carnarvon, he objected, on the ground that he was not able, but said he would lay the matter before his sister Betsey, who was far richer than himself.