He had been his father's secretary after leaving college, which prevented his making any serious efforts to succeed at the bar, and in consequence his interest, both of head and heart, had been more concentrated than is often the case with a young man within the walls of his home.

He had admired his father sincerely, and the worth of his mother's loquacious and sometimes meddlesome tenderness he never realised fully till he had lost it.

When he was finally alone, it became necessary for him to choose a line in life.

His sister and he divided his father's money between them, and Eustace found himself with a fortune such as in the eyes of most of his friends constituted a leading of Providence towards two things--marriage and a seat in Parliament.

However, fortunately, his sister, the only person to whom he applied for advice, was in no hurry to press a decision in either case upon him.