‘It’s too bad of him,’ broke out Mrs. Kendal.

‘I thought you were prepared,’ said Sophy, severely, disappointed to see him so much discomposed.

‘How should I be prepared,’ said he, petulantly, ’for the whole concern, house, and bank, and all the rest of it?’

‘Left to you?’ was the cry.

’Every bit of it, and an annuity apiece charged on it to my mother and aunt for their lives!  My aunt told me how it came about.  It was all that fellow Andrew’s fault.’

‘Or misfortune,’ murmured Albinia.

’My poor uncle had made a will in Andrew’s favour long before my time, and at Bristol he wanted to make some arrangement for my mother and for me; but it seems Mr. Andrew took exception at me—­would not promise to continue me on, nor to give me a share in the business, and at last my uncle was so much disgusted, that be sent for a lawyer and cut Andrew out of his will altogether.  My aunt says he went on asking for me, and it was Andrew’s fault that they wrote instead of telegraphing.  You can’t think what kind messages he sent to me;’ and Ulick’s eyes filled with tears.  ’My poor uncle, away from home, and with that selfish fellow.’

‘Did he send any message to your mother?’

’Yes! he told my aunt to write to her that he was sorry they had been strangers so long, and that—­I’d been like a son to him.  I’m sure I wish I had been.  I dare say he would have let me if I had not flown out about my O. I could have saved changing it without making such an intolerable row, and then he might have died more at peace with the world.’

‘At peace with you at least he did.’

’I trust so.  But if I could only have been by his side, and felt myself a comfort, and thanked him with all my heart.  Maybe he would have listened to me, and not have sown ill-will between Andrew and me, by giving neither what we would like.’

‘Do you expect us to be sorry?’

’Nay, I came to be helped out of my ingratitude and discontent at finding the cage-door shut, and myself chained to the oar; for as things are left, I could not get it off my hands without giving up my mother’s interests and my aunt’s.  Besides, my poor uncle left me an entreaty to keep things up creditably like himself, and do justice by the bank.  It is as if, poor man, it was an idol that he had been high priest to, and wanted me to be the same—­ay, and sacrifice too.’

’Nay, there are two ways of working, two kinds of sacrifice; and besides, you are still working for your mother.’

’So I am, but without the hope she had before.  To be sure, it would be affluence at home, or would be if she could have it in her own hands.  Little Redmond shall have the best of educations!  And we must mind there is something in advance by the time Bryan wants to purchase his company.’

Albinia asked how his aunt liked the arrangement.  It seemed that Andrew had offended her nearly as much as her brother, and that she was clinging to Ulick as her great comfort and support; he did not like to stay long away from her, but he had rushed down to Willow Lawn to avoid the jealous congratulations of the cousinhood.