"Well," returned Richard. "It was not to discuss these things that I put
myself in jeopardy; and to assert my innocence can do no good; it cannot
set aside the coroner's verdict of 'Wilful murder against Richard Hare,
the younger.' Is my father as bitter against me as ever?"

"Quite. He never mentions your name, or suffers it to be mentioned; he
gave his orders to the servants that it never was to be spoken in the
house again. Eliza could not, or would not remember, and she persisted
in calling your room 'Mr. Richard's.' I think the woman did it
heedlessly, not maliciously, to provoke papa; she was a good servant,
and had been with us three years you know. The first time she
transgressed, papa warned her; the second, he thundered at her as I
believe nobody else in the world can thunder; and the third he turned
her from the doors, never allowing her to get her bonnet; one of the
others carrying her bonnet and shawl to the gate, and her boxes were
sent away the same day. Papa took an oath--did you hear of it?"

"What oath? He takes many."

"This was a solemn one, Richard. After the delivery of the verdict,
he took an oath in the justice-room, in the presence of his brother
magistrates, that if he could find you he would deliver you up to
justice, and that he _would_ do it, though you might not turn up for ten
years to come. You know his disposition, Richard, and therefore may be
sure he will keep it. Indeed, it is most dangerous for you to be here."

"I know that he never treated me as he ought," cried Richard, bitterly.
"If my health was delicate, causing my poor mother to indulge me, ought
that to have been a reason for his ridiculing me on every possible