"Do what you can to keep down the quantity, but do not irritate him by refusing to obey.

It does not much signify now." So Lady Scatcherd still administered the alcohol, and he from day to day invented little schemes for increasing the amount, over which he chuckled with ghastly laughter.
Two or three times during these days Sir Roger essayed to speak seriously to his son; but Louis always frustrated him.

He either got out of the room on some excuse, or made his mother interfere on the score that so much talking would be bad for his father.

He already knew with tolerable accuracy what was the purport of his father's will, and by no means approved of it; but as he could not now hope to induce his father to alter it so as to make it more favourable to himself, he conceived that no conversation on matters of business could be of use to him.
"Louis," said Sir Roger, one afternoon to his son; "Louis, I have not done by you as I ought to have done--I know that now." "Nonsense, governor; never mind about that now; I shall do well enough, I dare say.

Besides, it isn't too late; you can make it twenty-three years instead of twenty-five, if you like it." "I do not mean as to money, Louis.