had no thread of relaxation in it, by
which any explorer could have been guided to the gloomy labyrinth of her
thoughts.

'Shall I speak of our affairs, mother? Are you inclined to enter upon
business?'

'Am I inclined, Arthur? Rather, are you? Your father has been dead a
year and more. I have been at your disposal, and waiting your pleasure,
ever since.'

'There was much to arrange before I could leave; and when I did leave, I
travelled a little for rest and relief.'

She turned her face towards him, as not having heard or understood his
last words. 'For rest and relief.'

She glanced round the sombre room, and appeared from the motion of her
lips to repeat the words to herself, as calling it to witness how little
of either it afforded her.

'Besides, mother, you being sole executrix, and having the direction and
management of the estate, there remained little business, or I might say
none, that I could transact, until you had had time to arrange matters
to your satisfaction.'

'The accounts are made out,' she returned. 'I have them here. The
vouchers have all been examined and passed. You can inspect them when
you like, Arthur; now, if you please.'

'It is quite enough, mother, to know that the business is completed.
Shall I proceed then?'

'Why not?' she said, in her frozen way.

'Mother, our House has done less and less for some years past, and our
dealings have been progressively on the decline. We have never shown
much confidence, or invited much; we have attached no people to us; the
track we have kept is not the track of the time; and we have been
left far behind. I need not dwell on this to you, mother. You know it
necessarily.'

'I know what you mean,' she answered, in a qualified tone. 'Even this
old house in which we speak,' pursued her son, 'is an instance of what I
say. In my father's earlier time, and in his uncle's time before him,
it was a place of business--really a place of business, and business
resort. Now, it is a mere anomaly and incongruity here, out of date and
out of purpose. All our consignments have long been made to Rovinghams'
the commission-merchants; and although, as a check upon them, and in
the stewardship of my father's resources, your judgment and watchfulness
have been actively exerted, still those qualities would have influenced
my father's fortunes equally, if you had lived in any private dwelling:
would they not?'

'Do you consider,' she returned, without answeri