inheritance which should have been his, had you not unjustly deprived him
of it."

"I will not. Your debts shall be paid."

"And do not upbraid me by drawing any more invidious comparisons between
me and one who holds my rightful place."

"I will not--I will not. John we understand each other now. Your manner
has not been the most filial toward me, but I will not reproach you for
that. You say that I have wronged you; and you know that wrong can never
be righted in this world. 'If I were to give my body to be burned,' it
could not benefit you in the least toward recovering your position; but
I will do all I can. I will sell Greencombe, which is my own entailed
property, and I will place the money with my banker, Levison, to your
account. I have a pleasant little shooting-box at the foot of Ben Lone.
We never go to it. You must have the run of it during the vacations. When
you are ready for your commission I will find you one in a good regiment.
In return I have one request to make you. For Heaven's sake avoid meeting
the duchess or her family. Do this for the sake of peace. I hope now that
we _do_ understand each other?" said the duke with emotion.

"We do," said the young man, his better spirit getting the ascendency for
a few moments. "We do; and I beg your pardon, my father, for the hasty,
unfilial words I have spoken."

"I can make every allowance, for you, John. I can comprehend how you must
often feel that you are only your mother's son," answered the duke,
grasping the hand that his son had offered.

So the interview that had threatened to end in a rupture between guardian
and ward terminated amicably.

John Scott's debts were once more paid, his pockets were once more
filled, and he left for Scotland to spend his vacation at the hunting-box
under Ben Lone, in the neighborhood made attractive to him, not by black
cock or red deer, but by the presence of his handsome shepherdess.

The duke sold Greencombe, and placed the purchase-money in the hands of
Sir Lemuel Levison and Co., Bankers, Lombard Street, London, to be
invested for the benefit of his ward, John Scott.

The unhappy duke did this at the very time when he was so pressed for
money to carry on the great work at Lone, as to be compelled to borrow
from the Jews at an enormous interest, mortgaging his estate, Hereward
Hold, in security.

And John Scott, with an ample income, and without any restraint, took
leave of his good angel and started on