“You are not worth what you get now,” said Fan, running away.
Stuart did not venture up stairs until just before supper. Louis declined to come down; so mamma sent him some tea, berries, and biscuits.
“I am afraid you are beginning in a way to make trouble for yourself,” papa said, thoughtfully, afterwards.
“I am going to indulge him for a few days. He is nervous, and really bashful; and I want him to learn to like us. But he cannot be forced to do anything.”
“I believe I like my girls the best,” said papa, fondly.
Saturday evenings, when no one dropped in, were our choicest time of all the week. Mamma played, and we all sang. This time no one came to disturb us. And we never knew, until long afterwards, that Louis Duncan listened with his eyes full of tears, and had not the courage to join us. But it always appeared to me like a little bit of heaven below. Papa’s sweet tenor voice seemed to belong to some particular hymns, and it took me far above the petty work-day affairs. How good and lovely he was in his every-day walks and ways!
Louis began to get somewhat acquainted with us on Sunday. He did not go to church, but lay on the bed reading nearly all day. No one found any fault with him; and Stuart’s teasing tongue was hushed. I think he stood a little in awe of my mother, gentle as she was. It was plain to see that the boys had been brought up with mere outward forms of religion; that they had no love and very little respect for it. How different they were from Stephen!
But the enforced quiet was broken on Monday morning, there were some high words, and then an unmistakable blow, followed by a struggle and a fall. Papa went up stairs.
“Boys,” he said, with severe but simple dignity, “are you brothers, and must you quarrel? If you have no respect for yourselves, I implore you to have a little for my house, that has hitherto been the abode of harmony. I will not have it.”
The combatants paused, and glared at each other with angry eyes. Stuart had come off victor, for it was Louis who had fallen. He was deadly white now, with a blue line about the mouth.