fear, talked defiantly; she addressed herself principally to her
brother, and she questioned him persistently, although the replies she
received were generally monosyllabic. As he chewed his meat with
reflection and precaution, broke his bread with deliberate and well-
defined movements, and filled his mouth with carefully chosen pieces,
he gradually ventured to decide that he would not speak to his father
that evening of the scheme he had been hatching for some months. It
was one of his strictest rules not to think while eating, so it may be
said that it was against his will that he arrived at this conclusion.
Willy suffered from indigestion, and he knew that any exercise of the
brain was most prejudicial at meal times.

After dinner Mr. Brookes and his son retired to the billiard-room to
smoke.

"Your sisters are a great trouble to me--a very great anxiety. Since
your poor mother died I've had no peace, none whatever. Poor Julia,
she's gone; I shall never see her again."

Willy made no answer. He was debating; he was still uncertain whether
the present time could be considered a favourable one to introduce his
scheme to his father's notice, and he had made up his mind that it
was, when he was interrupted by Mr. Brookes, who had again lapsed into
one of his semi-soliloquies.

"Your sisters give me a great deal of trouble, a very great deal of
anxiety. I am all alone. I have no one to help me since the death of
your poor mother."

"My sisters are fitted for nothing but pleasure," Willy replied