ment, and then, with a dry dignity that
suddenly touched his nephew: "We may sometimes point out a road we are
unable to follow."

"Ah, don't tell me you have had any sorrows," Felix rejoined. "I did n't
suppose it, and I did n't mean to allude to them. I simply meant that
you all don't amuse yourselves."

"Amuse ourselves? We are not children."

"Precisely not! You have reached the proper age. I was saying that the
other day to Gertrude," Felix added. "I hope it was not indiscreet."

"If it was," said Mr. Wentworth, with a keener irony than Felix would
have thought him capable of, "it was but your way of amusing yourself. I
am afraid you have never had a trouble."

"Oh, yes, I have!" Felix declared, with some spirit; "before I knew
better. But you don't catch me at it again."

Mr. Wentworth maintained for a while a silence more expressive than a
deep-drawn sigh. "You have no children," he said at last.

"Don't tell me," Felix exclaimed, "that your charming young people are a
source of grief to you!"

"I don't speak of Charlotte." And then, after a pause, Mr. Wentworth
continued, "I don't speak of Gertrude. But I feel considerable anxiety
about Clifford. I will tell you another time."

The next time he gave Felix a sitting his nephew reminded him that
he had taken him into his confidence. "How is Clifford to-day?" Felix
asked. "He has always seemed to me a young man of remarkable discretion.
Indeed, he is only too discreet; he seems on his guard against me--as
if he thought me rather light company. The other day he told his
sister--Gertrude repeated it to me--that I was always laughing at him.
If I laugh it is simply from the impulse to try and inspire him with
confidence. That is the only way I have."

"Clifford's situation is no laughing matter," said Mr. Wentworth. "It is
very peculiar, as I suppose you have guessed."

"Ah, you mean his love affair with his cousin?"

Mr. Wentworth stared, blushing a little. "I mean his absence from
college. He has been suspended. We have decided not to speak of it
unless we are asked."

"Suspended?" Felix repeated.

"He has been requested by the Harvard authorities to absent himself for
six months. Meanwhile he is studying with Mr. Brand. We think Mr. Brand
will help him; at least we hope so."

"What befell him at college?" Felix asked. "He was too fond of pleasure?
Mr. Brand certainly will not teach him any of those secrets!"

"He was too fond of something of whi