‘The law makes one have foresight in such affairs,’ said Roger.  ’So I’ll go down to Aimee next week when I’m in town, and I’ll make all necessary arrangements before you come.  I think you’ll be happier if it is all done.’

’I shall be happier if I’ve a chance of seeing the little woman, that I grant you.  But what is taking you up to town?  I wish I’d money to run about like you, instead of being shut up for ever in this dull old house.’

Osborne was apt occasionally to contrast his position with Roger’s in a tone of complaint, forgetting that both were the results of character, and also that out of his income Roger gave up so large a portion for the maintenance of his brother’s wife.  But if this ungenerous thought of Osborne’s had been set clearly before his conscience, he would have smote his breast and cried ‘Mea culpa’ with the best of them; it was only that he was too indolent to keep an unassisted conscience.

‘I should not have thought of going up,’ said Roger, reddening as if he had been accused of spending another’s money instead of his own, ’if I had not had to go up on business.  Lord Hollingford has written for me; he knows my great wish for employment, and has heard of something which he considers suitable; there’s his letter if you care to read it.  But it does not tell anything definitely.’

Osborne read the letter and returned it to Roger.  After a moment or two of silence he said,—­’Why do you want money?  Are we taking too much from you?  It’s a great shame of me; but what can I do?  Only suggest a career for me, and I’ll follow it to-morrow.’  He spoke as if Roger had been reproaching him.

’My dear fellow, don’t get those notions into your head!  I must do something for myself sometimes, and I have been on the look-out.  Besides, I want my father to go on with his drainage; it would do good both to his health and his spirits.  If I can advance any part of the money requisite, he and you shall pay me interest until you can return the capital.’

‘Roger, you’re the providence of the family,’ exclaimed Osborne, suddenly struck by admiration at his brother’s conduct, and forgetting to contrast it with his own.

So Roger went up to London and Osborne followed him, and for two or three weeks the Gibsons saw nothing of the brothers.  But as wave succeeds to wave, so interest succeeds to interest.  ‘The family,’ as they were called, came down for their autumn sojourn at the Towers; and again the house was full of visitors, and the Towers’ servants, and carriages, and liveries were seen in the two streets of Hollingford, just as they might have been seen for scores of autumns past.