rd Aymer's sharp, unreasonable remarks to his
brother. A memory of the old bad days came so forcibly to Mr. Aston
that he laid aside his pen at last and sat listening with an aching
heart. He knew those quick flashes of temper were a sign of irritation
brought to a white heat. Presently, after one remark more
unjustifiable than ever, Nevil looked across at his father with a
little rueful grimace, and seeing how grave was Mr. Aston's expression
he made another valiant effort to keep peace and ignore the abuse, and
went on reading. The subject under discussion was the draining of a
piece of waste land, and when the long article came to an end, Nevil
in his dreamy way summed up the matter by saying it was a very
picturesque corner of the estate and a pity to spoil it.

Aymer flung the papers down violently.

"That's all you care for, or are likely to care for," he said
brutally. "I know I might as well let the estate go to the dogs as try
and improve it. Once my father and I are dead, you'll turn it into a
damned garden for your own use."

For one second Nevil's face was a study in suppression. He got up and
walked across the room, his hands shaking.

Mr. Aston spoke sharply and suddenly.

"Aymer, pull yourself together. You are taking advantage of your
position. What circumstances do you imagine give you the right to
trample on other people's feelings like this, whenever something or
other has put you out? It's outrageous! Keep your temper better in
hand, man."

It was so obviously deserved, so terribly direct, and at the same time
so calculated to hurt, that Nevil turned on his father with
reproachful eyes, and then perceiving his face, said no more.

Aymer became suddenly rigid, and lay still with waves of colour rising
to and dying from his face, and his hands clenched.

Mr. Aston waited a moment and then said apologetically and hurriedly,
"I'm awfully sorry, Aymer."

"Oh, it had to be done," responded Aymer, turning his face to him with
a rueful smile. "I'm a brute. Nevil, old fellow, you ought to give him
a V. C. or something; he is positively heroic."

"Don't be an idiot," retorted his father, blushing for all his
fifty-eight years, because of a grain of truth in his son's words. For
indeed it sometimes requires more courage to be brutal to those we
love than to be kind to those we hate.

"Go away, Nevil," continued Mr. Aston good humouredly, "I'll look
after Aymer."

Nevil departed, with secret reli