frequent appliances to the bottle; it would even seem that (toward the

end) he had ceased to depend on Joseph's frugal generosity and called

for the flagon on his own account. The effect, at least, of some

mellowing influence was visible in the record: Abbas became suddenly a

willing witness; he began to volunteer disclosures; and Julia had just

looked up from her seam with something like a smile, when Morris burst

into the house, eagerly calling for his uncle, and the next instant

plunged into the room, waving in the air the evening paper.

It was indeed with great news that he came charged. The demise was

announced of Lieutenant-General Sir Glasgow Biggar, KCSI, KCMG, etc.,

and the prize of the tontine now lay between the Finsbury brothers. Here

was Morris's opportunity at last. The brothers had never, it is true,

been cordial. When word came that Joseph was in Asia Minor, Masterman

had expressed himself with irritation. 'I call it simply indecent,' he

had said. 'Mark my words--we shall hear of him next at the North Pole.'

And these bitter expressions had been reported to the traveller on his

return. What was worse, Masterman had refused to attend the lecture on

'Education: Its Aims, Objects, Purposes, and Desirability', although

invited to the platform. Since then the brothers had not met. On the

other hand, they never had openly quarrelled; Joseph (by Morris's

orders) was prepared to waive the advantage of his juniority; Masterman

had enjoyed all through life the reputation of a man neither greedy nor

unfair. Here, then, were all the elements of compromise assembled;

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