A very little kindness was too much for him.
"It is no good, Marston," he said, in quite a different voice--"I am not believed in this house." He turned away and leaned against the mantle-piece, looking into the fire.

Ralph cleared his throat once or twice, and then suddenly went up to him, and laid his hand affectionately on his shoulder.
"Fire away, old boy!" he said, in a constrained tone, and he choked again.
Charles turned round and faced his brother, with the saddest smile I ever saw.
"Well, Ralph!" he said, "I will tell you everything, and then you can believe me or not, as you like.

I have never told you a lie, have I ?" "Not often," replied Ralph, unwillingly.
"You at least are truth itself," said Charles, reddening; "and if you are biassed in your opinion of me, perhaps it is more the fault of that exemplary Christian, Aunt Mary, than your own.

According to her, I have told lies enough to float a company or carry an election, and I never like to disappoint her expectations of me in that respect; but you I have never to my knowledge deceived, and I am not going to begin now." "You will be a clergyman yet," whispered the sick parent.

"There is a good living in the family.