There is always something aggravating in being told, that the mood in which we are now viewing things strongly will not be our mood at some other time.  It implies that our present feelings are blinding us, and that some more clear-sighted spectator is able to distinguish our future better than we do ourselves.  The most shallow person dislikes to be told that any one can gauge his depth.  Mr. Bradshaw was not soothed by this last remark of Mr. Benson’s.  He stooped down to take up his hat and be gone.  Mr. Benson saw his dizzy way of groping, and gave him what he sought for; but he received no word of thanks.  Mr. Bradshaw went silently towards the door, but, just as he got there, he turned round, and said—­

“If there were more people like me, and fewer like you, there would be less evil in the world, sir.  It’s your sentimentalists that nurse up sin.”  Although Mr. Benson had been very calm during this interview, he had been much shocked by what had been let out respecting Richard’s forgery; not by the fact itself so much as by what it was a sign of.  Still, he had known the young man from childhood, and had seen, and often regretted, that his want of moral courage had rendered him peculiarly liable to all the bad effects arising from his father’s severe and arbitrary mode of treatment.  Dick would never have had “pluck” enough to be a hardened villain, under any circumstances:  but, unless some good influence, some strength, was brought to bear upon him, he might easily sink into the sneaking scoundrel.  Mr. Benson determined to go to Mr. Farquhar’s the first thing in the morning, and consult him as a calm, clear-headed family friend—­partner in the business, as well as son- and brother-in-law to the people concerned.

CHAPTER XXXI

AN ACCIDENT TO THE DOVER COACH

While Mr. Benson lay awake for fear of oversleeping himself, and so being late at Mr. Farquhar’s (it was somewhere about six o’clock—­dark as an October morning is at that time), Sally came to his door and knocked.  She was always an early riser; and if she had not been gone to bed long before Mr. Bradshaw’s visit last night, Mr. Benson might safely have trusted to her calling him.

“Here’s a woman down below as must see you directly.  She’ll be upstairs after me if you’re not down quick.”

“Is it any one from Clarke’s?”

“No, no! not it, master,” said she through the keyhole; “I reckon it’s Mrs. Bradshaw, for all she’s muffled up.”

He needed no other word.  When he went down, Mrs. Bradshaw sat in his easy-chair, swaying her body to and fro, and crying without restraint.  Mr. Benson came up to her, before she was aware that he was there.

“Oh! sir,” said she, getting up and taking hold of both his hands, “you won’t be so cruel, will you?  I have got some money somewhere—­some money my father settled on me, sir; I don’t know how much, but I think it’s more than two thousand pounds, and you shall have it all.  If I can’t give it you now, I’ll make a will, sir.  Only be merciful to poor Dick—­don’t go and prosecute him, sir.”