Cashel Byron's Profession

"Is Cashel quarrelsome?"

At the tone of this question Mrs. Skene suddenly realized the

untimeliness of her complaints. "No, no," she protested. "He never

drinks; and as to fighting, if you can believe such a thing, miss, I

don't think he has had a casual turnup three times in his life--not

oftener, at any rate. All he wants is to be married; and then he'll

be steady to his grave. But if he's left adrift now, Lord knows what

will become of him. He'll mope first--he's moping at present--then

he'll drink; then he'll lose his pupils, get out of condition, be

beaten, and--One word from you, miss, would save him. If I might

just tell him--"

"Nothing," said Lydia. "Absolutely nothing. The only assurance I

can give you is that you have softened the hard opinion that I had

formed of some of his actions. But that I should marry Mr. Cashel

Byron is simply the most improbable thing in the world. All

questions of personal inclination apart, the mere improbability is

enough in itself to appal an ordinary woman."

Mrs. Skene did not quite understand this; but she understood

sufficiently for her purpose. She rose to go, shaking her head

despondently, and saying, "I see how it is, ma'am. You think him

beneath you. Your relations wouldn't like it."

"There is no doubt that my relatives would be greatly shocked; and I

am bound to take that into account for--what it is worth."

"We should never trouble you," said Mrs. Skene, lingering. "England

will see the last of us in a month of two."

"That will make no difference to me, except that I shall regret not

being able to have a pleasant chat with you occasionally." This was

not true; but Lydia fancied she was beginning to take a hardened

delight in lying.

Mrs. Skene was not to be consoled by compliments. She again shook

her head. "It is very kind of you to give me good words, miss," she

said; "but if I might have one for the boy you could say what you

liked to me."

Lydia considered far before she replied. At last she said, "I am

sorry I spoke harshly to him, since, driven as he was by

circumstances, I cannot see how he could have acted otherwise than

he did. And I overlooked the economic conditions of his profession.

In short, I am not used to fisticuffs; and what I saw shocked me so

much that I was unreasonable. But," continued Lydia, checking Mrs.

Skene's rising hope with a warning finger, "how, if you tell him

this, will you make him understand that I say so as an act of

justice, and not in the least as a proffer of affection?"