‘A clerk’s income would not be more than L100 a year, my lady.’

‘To begin with—­no; certainly not more.’  The lady was growing brief.

’If my son puts by the half of that yearly, he can hardly support himself and his mother, my lady.’

‘Half of that yearly, Mrs. Harrington?’

‘He would have to do so, and be saddled till he dies, my lady.’

‘I really cannot see why.’

Lady Racial had a notion of some excessive niggardly thrift in the widow, which was arousing symptoms of disgust.

Mrs. Harrington quietly said:  ’There are his father’s debts to pay, my lady.’

‘His father’s debts!’

‘Under L5000, but above L4000, my lady.’

‘Five thousand pounds!  Mrs. Harrington!’ The lady’s delicately gloved hand gently rose and fell.  ’And this poor young man—­’she pursued.

‘My son will have to pay it, my lady.’

For a moment the lady had not a word to instance.  Presently she remarked:  ‘But, Mrs. Harrington, he is surely under no legal obligation?’

’He is only under the obligation not to cast disrespect on his father’s memory, my lady; and to be honest, while he can.’

‘But, Mrs. Harrington! surely! what can the poor young man do?’

‘He will pay it, my lady.’

‘But how, Mrs. Harrington?’

‘There is his father’s business, my lady.’

His father’s business!  Then must the young man become a tradesman in order to show respect for his father?  Preposterous!  That was the lady’s natural inward exclamation.  She said, rather shrewdly, for one who knew nothing of such things:  ’But a business which produces debts so enormous, Mrs. Harrington!’

The widow replied:  ’My son will have to conduct it in a different way.  It would be a very good business, conducted properly, my lady.’

’But if he has no taste for it, Mrs. Harrington?  If he is altogether superior to it?’

For the first time during the interview, the widow’s inflexible countenance was mildly moved, though not to any mild expression.

‘My son will have not to consult his tastes,’ she observed:  and seeing the lady, after a short silence, quit her seat, she rose likewise, and touched the fingers of the hand held forth to her, bowing.

‘You will pardon the interest I take in your son,’ said Lady Racial.  ’I hope, indeed, that his relatives and friends will procure him the means of satisfying the demands made upon him.’

‘He would still have to pay them, my lady,’ was the widow’s answer.

‘Poor young man! indeed I pity him!’ sighed her visitor.  ’You have hitherto used no efforts to persuade him to take such a step,—­Mrs. Harrington?’

’I have written to Mr. Goren, who was my husband’s fellow-apprentice in London, my lady; and he is willing to instruct him in cutting, and measuring, and keeping accounts.’

Certain words in this speech were obnoxious to the fine ear of Lady Racial, and she relinquished the subject.