these violent fits of temper have only come over him of late, and I
am afraid that there must be some cause for them of which I am unaware."

Bruce sat silent and unhappy. Expelled from college, and insulted, (as
he called it), at home, he felt truly alone and miserable. He went up
to his own room, supped there, and coming down next morning to the
awkward meeting with his parents, spoke a few words of regret about his
position. Sir Rollo barely listened to them, breakfasted in silence,
and immediately afterwards set out for his office. He did not return
till late in the evening, and continued for some time to spend the days
in this manner, seeing next to nothing of his wife and son, but sternly
forbidding any festivities or balls.

One morning he called Vyvyan into his study before starting. Bruce laid
aside his novel, yawned, and followed.

"Pray, sir, do you intend to spend _all_ your time in reading novels?"
said Sir Rollo.

"There's nothing else for me to do that I see."

"Very well. If you suppose that you are going to spend your days in
idleness, you are mistaken. I give you a week to choose some occupation
that will not involve me in further outlay."

Bruce took out his embroidered pocket-handkerchief, redolent with scent,
and blew his nose affectedly. On doing so, an unopened envelope dropped
on the floor, out of his pocket; picking it up, he glanced at it, tore
it across, and flung it into the fire. Sir Rollo immediately picked up
the pieces with the tongs and opened it.

"I see that this is a bill, and I shall proceed to look at it."

"Yes, if you like," said Bruce, in an indifferent tone--"it's from a
dun."

It was a tailor's bill which had been sent after him, and it amounted to
150 pounds.

"And you suppose," said his father, "that I am going to pay these debts
for you?"

"I suppose so, certainly--some day. Let the dogs wait."

Sir Rollo seemed on the point of a great burst of wrath; his lips
positively quivered and his eye flashed with passion. He seemed,
however, to control himself,--darted at his son a look of wrath and
scorn, and left the room. A note that evening informed Lady Bruce that
business detained him from home, and that he might not return for some
days.

A week after Bruce received a letter with foreign post-marks, to the
following effect:--

DEAR VYVYAN--By the time you receive this, I shall be on the
Continent, far beyond the reach of the law.

"I have