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It flashed through him that a young man who loathed and despised Injusticeeven to himselfwould not consent to be diddled by him out of one sum while making him a present of another： and then there was Skinner's thousand to be reimbursed。 He therefore declined in these terms：
〃This offer shows me you are sincere in these strange notions you have taken up。 I am sorry for it： it looks like insanity。 These nocturnal illusions； these imaginary sights and sounds； come of brooding on a single idea； and often usher in a calamity one trembles to think of。 You have made me a proposal： I make you one： take a couple of hundred pounds （I'll get it from your trustees） and travel the Continent for four months； enlarge and amuse your mind with the contemplation of nature and manners and customs； and if that does not clear this phantom L。 14；000 out of your head； I am much mistaken。〃
Alfred replied that foreign travel was his dream： but he could not leave Barkington while there was an act of justice to be done。
〃Then do me justice； boy；〃 said Mr。 Hardie； with wonderful dignity； all things considered。 〃Instead of brooding on your one fantastical idea； and shutting out all rational evidence to the contrary； take the trouble to look through my books： and they will reveal to you a fortune； not of fourteen thousand； but of eighty thousand pounds； honourably sacrificed in the vain struggle to fulfil my engagements： who； do you think； will believe； against such evidence； the preposterous tale you have concocted against your poor father？ Already the tide is turning； and all who have seen the accounts of the Bank pity me； they will pity me still more if ever they hear my own flesh and blood insults me in the moment of my fall； sees me ruined by my honesty and living in a hovel； yet comes into that poor but honest abode； and stabs me to the heart by accusing me of stealing fourteen thousand pounds： a sum that would have saved me； if I could only have laid my hands on it。〃
He hid his face； to conceal its incongruous expression： and heaved a deep sigh。
Alfred turned his head away and groaned。
After a while he rose from his seat and went to the door； but seemed reluctant to go： he cast a longing； lingering look on his father； and said beseechingly： 〃Oh think！ you are not my flesh and blood more than I am yours； is all the love to be on my side？ Have I no influence even when right is on my side？〃 Then he suddenly turned and threw himself impetuously on his knees： 〃Your father was the soul of honour； your son loathed fraud and injustice from his cradle； you stand between two generations of Hardies； and belong to neither； do but reflect one moment how bright a thing honour is； how short and uncertain a thing life is； how sure a thing retribution is； in this world or the next： it is your guardian angel that kneels before you now； and not your son： oh； for Christ's sake； for my mother's sake； listen to my last appeal。 You don't know me： I cannot compound with injustice。 Pity me； pity her I love； pity yourself！〃
〃You young viper！〃 cried the father； stung with remorse； but not touched with penitence。 〃Get away； you amorous young hypocrite； get out of my house； get out of my sight； or I shall spurn you and curse you at my feet。〃
〃Enough！〃 said Alfred； rising and turning suddenly calm as a statue： 〃let us be gentlemen； if you please； even though we must be enemies。 Good…bye； my father that _was。_〃
And he walked gently out of the room； and； as he passed the window Mr。 Hardie heard his great heart sob。
He wiped his forehead with his handkerchief。 〃A hard tussle；〃 thought he； 〃and with my own unnatural； ungrateful flesh and blood； but I have won it： he hasn't told the Dodds； he never will； and； if he did； who would believe him； or them？〃
At dinner there was no Alfred； but after dinner a note to Jane informing her he had taken lodgings in the town； and requesting her to send his books and clothes in the evening。 Jane handed the note to her father： and sighed deeply。 Watching his face as he read it； she saw him turn rather pale； and look more furrowed than ever。
〃Papa！〃 said she； 〃what _does_ it all mean！〃
〃I am thinking。〃
Then； after a long pause； he ground his teeth and said； 〃It meansWar： War between my own son and me。〃
CHAPTER XXVI
LONG before this open rupture Jane Hardie had asked her father sorrowfully； whether she was to discontinue her intimacy with the Dodds： she thought of course he would say 〃Yes；〃 and it cost her a hard struggle between inclination and filial duty to raise the question。 But Mr。 Hardie was anxious her friendship with that family should continue； it furnished a channel of news； and in case of detection might be useful to avert or soften hostilities； so he answered rather sharply； 〃On no account： the Dodds are an estimable family： pray be as friendly with them as ever you can。〃 Jane coloured with pleasure at this most unexpected reply； but her wakeful conscience reminded her； this answer was given in ignorance of her attachment to Edward Dodd； and urged her to confession。 But at that Nature recoiled： Edward had not openly declared his love to her； so modest pride； as well as modest shame； combined with female cowardice to hold back the avowal。
So then Miss Tender Conscience tormented herself； and recorded the struggle in her diary； but briefly； and in terms vague and typical； not a word about 〃a young man〃or 〃crossed in love〃but one obscure and hasty slap at the carnal affections； and a good deal about 〃the saints in prison；〃 and 〃the battle of Armageddon。〃
Yet； to do her justice； laxity of expression did not act upon her conduct and warp that as it does most mystical speakers。
To obey her father to the letter； she maintained a friendly correspondence with Julia Dodd； exchanging letters daily； but； not to disobey him in the spirit； she ceased to visit Albion Villa。 Thus she avoided Edward； and extracted from the situation the utmost self…denial； and the least possible amount of 〃carnal pleasure；〃 as she naively denominated an interchange of worldly affection； however distant and respectful。
One day she happened to mention her diary； and say it was a present comfort to her； and instructive to review。 Julia； catching at every straw of consolation； said she would keep one too； and asked a sight of Jane's for a model。 〃No； dear friend；〃 said Jane： 〃a diary should be one's self on paper。〃
This was fortunate： it precluded that servile imitation； in which her sex excels even mine； and consequently the two records reflect two good girls； instead of one in two skins； and may be trusted to conduct this narrative forward； and relieve its monotony a little： only； of course； the reader must not expect to see the plot of a story carried minutely out in two crude compositions written with an object so distinct： he must watch for glimpses and make the most of indications。 Nor is this an excessive demand upon his intelligence； for； if he cannot do this with a book； how will he do it in real life； where male and female characters reveal their true selves by glimpses only； and the gravest and most dramatic events give the diviner so few and faint signs of their coming？
_Extracts from Julia D