ace, how do you know
who will answer them, or who will hear them?"

"Well, father, as you understand all about it, it is no use my
explaining any further. It is pretty late; I think I will be turning
in."

"I had hoped," replied the Colonel, in an aggrieved voice, "that you
might have been able to spare me a few minutes' conversation. For some
weeks I have been seeking an opportunity to talk to you; but somehow
your arduous occupations never seem to leave you free for ordinary
social intercourse."

"Certainly," replied Morris, "though I don't quite know why you should
say that. I am always about the place if you want me." But in his heart
he groaned, guessing what was coming.

"Yes; but you are ever working at your chemicals and machinery in the
old chapel; or reading those eternal books; or wandering about rapt
in contemplation of the heavens; so that, in short, I seldom like to
trouble you with my mundane but necessary affairs."

Morris made no answer; he was a very dutiful son and humble-spirited.
Those who pit their intelligences against the forces of Nature, and
try to search out her secrets, become humble. He could not altogether
respect his father; the gulf between them was too wide and deep. But
even at his present age of three and thirty he considered it a duty to
submit himself to him and his vagaries. Outside of other reasons, his
mother had prayed him to do so almost with her last breath, and, living
or dead, Morris loved his mother.

"Perhaps you are not aware," went on Colonel Monk, after a solemn pause,
"that the affairs of this property are approaching a crisis."

"I know something, but no details," answered Morris. "I have not liked
to interfere," he added apologetically.

"And I have not not liked to trouble you with such sordid matters,"
rejoined his parent, with sarcasm. "I presume, however, that you are
acquainted with the main facts. I succeeded to this estate encumbered
with a mortgage, created by your grandfather, an extravagant and
unbusiness-like man. That mortgage I looked to your mother's fortune
to pay off, but other calls made this impossible. For instance, the
sea-wall here had to be built if the Abbey was to be saved, and half a
mile of sea-walling costs something. Also very extensive repairs to the
house were necessary, and I was forced to take three farms in hand when
I retired from the army fifteen years ago. This has involved a net loss
of about ten thousand pounds, while al