n by the collar, wrenched the whip out of his hand, and
raised the silver knob at the end of the handle. What fearful hurt
Julian might have received from so heavy a weapon in so powerful a hand,
or how far Brogten's fury might have transported him, none can tell; but
at that very moment he heard a step on the stairs, which arrested his
violence, and the moment after Lillyston entered.

"What!" said Lillyston indignantly, as he caught the almost diabolical
expression of Brogten's face. "Not content with doing your best to ruin
Home, you are using personal violence to one not so strong as yourself.
Come, sir, you have felt what I can do before. Drop that whip, or take
the consequences."

"Stop, Hugh," said Julian sullenly; "I horse-whipped him first."

"You!" said Lillyston.

"Yes," answered Brogten slowly, while his voice shook with passion;
"yes, he did horse-whip me, and I took it. Note that, you Lillyston,
and don't think I'm afraid of _you_. And as for you, Home, listen to
me. I came here solely to tell you that though I screwed you in, I
never dreamt that such results would follow. I never dreamt--so help
me, God!--of doing more than causing you ten minutes' annoyance; and
now, when I was told how it had hindered you in the examination, I was
heartily sorry and ashamed of what I had done, and,"--he began to speak
lower and faster, as the remembrance of a better mood came over
him--"and I came here, Home, to ask your forgiveness. _Yes; I to beg
pardon of you, and humbly and honestly too_. And now you see how you
have received me. Yes," he continued fiercely; "no word between us from
henceforth. You have horse-whipped me, sir, and I, who never took a
blow from man yet without returning it, have taken your horse-whipping.
Take your whip," he said, flinging it to the end of the room; "and after
that never dare to say that all accounts are not squared between us."

Lillyston made room for him to pass. With a lowering countenance he
turned from them, and they continued silent till they had heard his last
heavy footfall as he went down the echoing stairs.

Lillyston sat on the sofa, and Julian kept his eyes fixed on the floor.
There seemed nothing to talk about, so Lillyston merely said,
"Good-night, Julian. I came to advise you to go to bed early, and so
get a good night's rest, that you may be _yourself_ to-morrow. You have
not been yourself to-day. Good-night."

But a worse evil had happened to Ju