"As to home influence," broke in Mrs. Aalbom, "school and home ought to
go hand-in-hand."

"Of course they ought," rejoined her husband. "If a boy is punished at
school, he ought to be punished also at home."

"But then, homes are so different," said Johnsen. This was the first
time he had made a remark that Rachel found rather feeble.

"Well, I don't know," cried Mrs. Aalbom, putting her head on one side
and looking up to the ceiling. "It is possible to have too much of
natural affection, mother's influence, home feeling, and that sort of
thing."

"It entirely depends what sort of home it is, Mrs. Aalbom," broke in
Jacob Worse, suddenly.

Every eye was turned upon him. He had drawn himself up, and his face was
red and his eyes gleaming.

There came a slight pause in the conversation, of which the Consul
availed himself, and, taking up his glass, he said, with a smile, "Now
we must mind what we are about. This is not the first time I have seen
Jacob Worse join in a conversation like this; and if we do not want him
to make it too warm for us, we had better change the scene of action to
another room, where we can carry on the conflict in the shade. So if the
ladies and gentlemen are of the same opinion as myself, we had better
retire."

The company broke up. Uncle Richard laughed heartily as he thanked