own showing the case
seems to be one of great insubordination. To tell the truth, Lord
Silverbridge, I ought not to have spoken to you on the subject at
all."

"You mean that I should not have spoken to you."

"Well; I did not say so. And if you have been indiscreet I can pardon
that. I wish I could have served you; but I fear that it is not in
my power." Then Lord Silverbridge took his leave, and going to his
brother's rooms waited there till Lord Gerald had returned from his
interview with the tutor.

"It's all up," said he, chucking down his cap, striving to be at his
ease. "I may pack up and go--just where I please. He says that on no
account will he have anything more to do with me. I asked him what I
was to do, and he said that the governor had better take my name off
the books of the college. I did ask whether I couldn't go over to
Maclean."

"Who is Maclean?"

"One of the other tutors. But the brute only smiled."

"He thought you meant it for chaff."

"Well;--I suppose I did mean to show him that I was not going to be
exterminated by him. He will write to the governor to-day. And you
will have to talk to the governor."

Yes! As Lord Silverbridge went back that afternoon to London he
thought very much of that talking to the governor! Never yet had he
been able to say anything very pleasant to "the governor." He had
himself been always in disgrace at Eton, and had been sent away from
Oxford. He had introduced Tregear into the family, which of all the
troubles perhaps was the worst. He had changed his politics. He had
spent more money than he ought to have done, and now at this very
moment must ask for a large sum. And he had brought Gerald up to see
the Derby, thereby causing him to be sent away from Cambridge! And
through it all there was present to him a feeling that by no words
which he could use would he be able to make his father understand how
deeply he felt all this.

He could not bring himself to see the Duke that evening, and the
next morning he was sent for before he was out of bed. He found his
father at breakfast with the tutor's letter before him. "Do you know
anything about this?" asked the Duke very calmly.

"Gerald ran up to see the Derby, and in the evening missed the
train."

"Mr. Harnage tells me that he had been expressly ordered not to go to
these races."

"I suppose he was, sir."

Then there was silence between them for some minutes. "You might as
well sit down and eat yo