Sir Geoffrey looked up.
"Yes," he said. "Melville was here last night."
Ralph was vexed, for he knew what was the usual reason for his brother's visits to Fairbridge.
"Was he?" he said. "I didn't know he was back."
"Then you knew he was going abroad?"
"Oh, yes," said Ralph. "He made no secret about it to me."
Sir Geoffrey only grunted, and Ralph went on.
"In many ways I'm rather sorry for Melville, uncle. Of course, I know he has been a lot of worry to you, but he's my brother after all, and it isn't easy to get the sort of work that he could do."
"He's had a good education," said Sir Geoffrey, "and he's got good health and a pair of hands. What more does a man need to earn an honest living?"
Ralph was very happy, and when one is happy it is difficult not to feel generously disposed even to those one loves the least; so now he championed his brother quite sincerely.