the arbiter of fashions, the king of bucks, and the best-dressed man
in town that his reputation reached us. My father, however, did not
appear to be elated at my mother's triumphant rejoinder.

"Ay, and what does he want?" asked he, in no very amiable voice.

"I wrote to him, Anson, and told him that Rodney was growing a man
now, thinking, since he had no wife or child of his own, he might be
disposed to advance him."

"We can do very well without him," growled my father. "He sheered
off from us when the weather was foul, and we have no need of him
now that the sun is shining."

"Nay, you misjudge him, Anson," said my mother, warmly. "There is
no one with a better heart than Charles; but his own life moves so
smoothly that he cannot understand that others may have trouble.
During all these years I have known that I had but to say the word
to receive as much as I wished from him."

"Thank God that you never had to stoop to it, Mary. I want none of
his help."

"But we must think of Rodney."

"Rodney has enough for his sea-chest and kit. He needs no more."

"But Charles has great power and influence in London. He could make
Rodney known to all the great people. Surely you would not stand in
the way of his advancement."