’There is no reason you and your brother should not be a blessing to each other.’

’Yes, there is.  Till I lived at home, I did not know how impossible it is to keep clear of old acquaintance.  They are good-natured fellows—­that Tritton and the like—­and after all that has come and gone, one would be a brute to cut them entirely, and Maurice is always after me, and has been more about with them than his mother knows.  Even if I were very different, I should be a link, and though it might be no great harm if Maurice were a tame mamma’s boy—­you see, being the fellow he is, up to anything for a lark, and frantic about horses—­I could never keep him from them.  There’s no such great harm in themselves—­hearty, good-natured fellows they are—­but there’s a worse lot that they meet, and Maurice will go all lengths whenever he begins.  Now, so little as he is now, if I were once gone, he would never run into their way, and they would never get a hold of him.’

Mr. Ferrars had unconsciously screwed up his face with dismay, but he relaxed it, and spoke kindly.

’You are right.  It was a mistake to stay at home.  Perhaps your regiment may be stationed elsewhere.’

’I don’t know how long it may be called out.  If it were but possible to make a fresh beginning.’

‘Did you hear of my brother’s suggestion?’

’I wish—­but it is useless to talk about that.  I could not presume to ask my father for a commission—­Heaven knows when I shall dare to speak to him!’

‘You have not personally asked his pardon after full confession.’

‘N-o—­Mrs. Kendal knows all.’

‘Did you ever do such a thing in your life?’

‘You don’t know what my father is.’

‘Neither do you, Gilbert.  Let that be the first token of sincerity.’

Without leaving space for another word, Mr. Ferrars went through the conservatory into the garden, where, meeting the children, he took the little one in his arms, and sent Maurice to fetch his mamma.  Albinia came down, looking so much heated and harassed, that he was grieved to leave her.

‘Oh, Maurice, I am sorry!  You always come in for some catastrophe,’ she said, trying to smile.  ‘You have had a most forlorn morning.’

‘Gilbert has been with me,’ he said.  ’He has told me all, my dear, and I think it hopeful:  I like him better than I ever did before.’

‘Poor feather, the breath of your lips has blown him the other way,’ said Albinia, too unhappy for consolation.

’Well, it seems to me that you have done more for him than I ever quite believed.  I did not expect such sound, genuine religious feeling.’

‘He always had plenty of religious sentiment,’ said Albinia, sadly.

‘I have asked him to come to us next week.  Will you tell Edmund so?’

’Yes.  He will be thankful to you for taking him in hand.  Poor boy, I know how attractive his penitence is, but I have quite left off building on it.’