Ruthven will require more very soon--"
"Is that _all_?" demanded Selwyn sharply.
"Yes--all. . . . I know I have behaved shamefully--"
"I've seen," observed Selwyn in a dry, hard voice, "worse behaviour than
yours. . . . Have you a pencil, Gerald? Get a sheet of paper from that
desk. Now, write out a list of the loans made you by Neergard. . . .
Every cent, if you please. . . . And the exact amount you placed to Mrs.
Ruthven's credit. . . . Have you written that? Let me see it."
The boy handed him the paper. He studied it without the slightest change
of expression--knowing all the while what it meant to him; knowing that
this burden must be assumed by himself because Austin would never
assume it.
And he sat there staring at space over the top of the pencilled sheet of
paper, striving to find some help in the matter. But he knew Austin; he
knew what would happen to Gerald if, after the late reconciliation with
his ex-guardian, he came once more to him with such a confession of debt
and disgrace.
Pages:
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554