collision about them. I am always expecting that, having made those
Marksedge people thieves, murder will be the next consequence.'

A few seconds sufficed to bring the ludicrous back. 'How pat it
comes! Mary, did you prime Mrs. Warren, or did Frampton?'

'I believe you had rather laugh at yourself than at any one else,'
exclaimed his aunt, who felt baffled at having thrown away her
compassion.

'Of course. One knows how much can be borne. Why, Mary, has that
set you studying,--do you dissent?'

'I was thinking whether it is the best thing to be always ready to
laugh at oneself,' said Mary. 'Does it always help in mending?'

''Don't care' came to a bad end,' said Louis; 'but on the other hand,
care killed a cat--so there are two sides to the question.'

While Mary was feeling disappointed at his light tone, he changed it
to one that was almost mournful. 'The worst of it is, that 'don't
care' is my refuge. Whatever I do care about is always thwarted by
Frampton or somebody, and being for ever thrown over, I have only to
fall as softly as I can.'

'You know, my dear,' said Mrs. Frost, 'that your father has no
command of means to gratify you.'

'There are means enough for ourselves,' said Louis; 'that is the
needful duty. What merely personal indulgence did I ever ask for