Though Evan answered cheerfully, ’Oh, they will wait, and I can live on anything,’ he was nevertheless floundering on the ground amid the ruins of the superb edifice; and his mother, upright and rigid, continuing, ’You can live on anything, and they will wait, and call your father a rogue,’ he started, grievously bitten by one of the serpents of earth.

‘Good heaven, mother! what are you saying?’

‘That they will call your father a rogue, and will have a right to,’ said the relentless woman.

‘Not while I live!’ Evan exclaimed.

‘You may stop one mouth with your fist, but you won’t stop a dozen, Van.’

Evan jumped up and walked the room.

‘What am I to do?’ he cried.  ’I will pay everything.  I will bind myself to pay every farthing.  What more can I possibly do?’

‘Make the money,’ said Mrs. Mel’s deep voice.

Evan faced her:  ’My dear mother, you are very unjust and inconsiderate.  I have been working and doing my best.  I promise—­what do the debts amount to?’

‘Something like L5000 in all, Van.’

‘Very well.’  Youth is not alarmed by the sound of big sums.  ’Very well—­I will pay it.’

Evan looked as proud as if he had just clapped down the full amount on the table.

’Out of the History of Portugal, half written, and the prospect of a Government appointment?’

Mrs. Mel raised her eyelids to him.

‘In time-in time, mother!’

’Mention your proposal to the creditors when you meet them this day week,’ she said.

Neither of them spoke for several minutes.  Then Evan came close to her, saying: 

‘What is it you want of me, mother?’

‘I want nothing, Van—­I can support myself.’

‘But what would you have me do, mother?’

‘Be honest; do your duty, and don’t be a fool about it.’

‘I will try,’ he rejoined.  ’You tell me to make the money.  Where and how can I make it?  I am perfectly willing to work.’

‘In this house,’ said Mrs. Mel; and, as this was pretty clear speaking, she stood up to lend her figure to it.

‘Here?’ faltered Evan.  ‘What! be a ——­’

‘Tailor!’ The word did not sting her tongue.

‘I?  Oh, that’s quite impossible!’ said Evan.  And visions of leprosy, and Rose shrinking her skirts from contact with him, shadowed out and away in his mind.

‘Understand your choice!’ Mrs. Mel imperiously spoke.  ’What are brains given you for?  To be played the fool with by idiots and women?  You have L5000 to pay to save your father from being called a rogue.  You can only make the money in one way, which is open to you.  This business might produce a thousand pounds a-year and more.  In seven or eight years you may clear your father’s name, and live better all the time than many of your bankrupt gentlemen.  You have told the creditors you will pay them.  Do you think they’re