'I don't know,' answered her brother with a shrug. Then he folded his arms, threw out his legs, and leaned back in the chair. 'A fellow like me, who has seen the world, can always pick up a living.'
Honor sighed. What had he learned? For what was he fitted?
'Charles,' she said, 'this is your father's house, and here you were born. You have as true a right to shelter in it as I. You are heartily welcome, you may believe that. But look about you. We are not in Coombe Park. Including you we make up twelve in this cottage. What we live on is what your father earns by his carrying; but he is in debt, and we have no money to spare, we cannot afford to maintain idlers.'
'Take my money,' said Charles, emptying his pocket oh the table.
'No,' answered Honor. 'For a week we will feed you for nothing. That money must be spent in dressing you respectably. By next week you will have found work.'
'Maybe,' said the soldier. 'It is not every sort of work that will suit me. Any one want a gamekeeper about here?'
'No, Charles, there is only Squire Impey in this parish; besides, without your forefinger, who would take you as a gamekeeper?'
'The devil take me. I forgot that.'
'Curses again,' said Honor. 'You must refrain your mouth before the children.'
'I have not gone to church,' said Charles sullenly, 'because I didn't want to be preached to; spare me a sermon at home.'