"This is too unreasonable," cried Charles, rising: "where is the disgrace of an intelligent and honourable calling, and where the ingratitude of endeavouring to improve my condition, without trespassing further on your kindness?"

"Good evening, sir," said Lord Penrhyn, who had too much sense not to know that the subject would not bear arguing. Charles's heart swelled within him; he went round, and would have taken his sister's hand to bid her farewell, but she snatched it away, and said, "Remember, I shall never visit your wife." Charles left the house at once indignant and astonished; and yet he had lived long enough in the world to know that nothing is too unreasonable nor too unkind for selfishness, acted upon by vanity; moreover, that we always harden ourselves in the ill doing of which we are secretly ashamed.