what can I say to him?"

"But, papa," said Mrs Grantly, getting up, and putting her arm through
that of her father, "what is Eleanor to do if you throw away your
income?"

A hot tear stood in each of the warden's eyes as he looked round upon
his married daughter. Why should one sister who was so rich predict
poverty for another? Some such idea as this was on his mind, but he
gave no utterance to it. Then he thought of the pelican feeding its
young with blood from its own breast, but he gave no utterance to
that either; and then of Eleanor waiting for him at home, waiting to
congratulate him on the end of all his trouble.

"Think of Eleanor, papa," said Mrs Grantly.

"I do think of her," said her father.

"And you will not do this rash thing?" The lady was really moved
beyond her usual calm composure.

"It can never be rash to do right," said he. "I shall certainly
resign this wardenship."

"Then, Mr Harding, there is nothing before you but ruin," said the
archdeacon, now moved beyond all endurance. "Ruin both for you and
Eleanor. How do you mean to pay the monstrous expenses of this
action?"

Mrs Grantly suggested that, as the action was abandoned, the costs
would not be heavy.

"Indeed they will, my dear," continued he. "One cannot have the
attorney-general up at twelve o'clock at night for nothing;--but of
course your father has not thought of this."

"I will sell my furniture," said the warden.

"Furniture!" ejaculated the other, with a most powerful sneer.

"Come, archdeacon," said the lady, "we needn't mind that at present.
You know you never expected papa to pay the costs."

"Such absurdity is enough to provoke Job," said the archdeacon,
marching quickly up and down the room. "Your father is like a child.
Eight hundred pounds a year!--eight hundred and eighty with the
house,--with nothing to do. The very place for him. And to throw
that up because some scoundrel writes an article in a newspaper!
Well;--I have done my duty. If he chooses to ruin his child I cannot
help it;" and he stood still at the fire-place, and looked at himself
in a dingy mirror which stood on the chimney-piece.

There was a pause for about a minute, and then the warden, finding
that nothing else was coming, lighted his candle, and quietly said,
"Good-night."

"Good-night, papa," said the lady.

And so the warden retired; but, as he closed the door behind him, he
heard the well-known ejaculation,--slower, low