hat he had been betting and had been unfortunate. She had
been unable so to subdue herself as to seem to be perfectly careless
about it. She had begun by saying that she had not believed it;--but
she had believed it. It was so natural that Tregear should have done
as the others did with whom he lived! But then the misfortune would
be to him so terrible,--so irremediable! The reader, however, may
as well know at once that there was not a word of truth in the
assertion.

After the dinner she went home alone. There were other festivities to
be attended, had she pleased to attend them; and poor Miss Cassewary
was dressed ready to go with her as chaperone;--but Miss Cassewary
was quite satisfied to be allowed to go to bed in lieu of Mrs.
Montacute Jones's great ball. And she had gone to her bedroom when
Lady Mabel went to her. "I am glad you are alone," she said, "because
I want to speak to you."

"Is anything wrong?"

"Everything is wrong. Papa says he must give up this house."

"He says that almost always when he comes back from the races, and
very often when he comes back from the club."

"Percival has lost ever so much."

"I don't think my Lord will hamper himself for your brother."

"I can't explain it, but there is some horrible money complication.
It is hard upon you and me."

"Who am I?" said Miss Cassewary.

"About the dearest friend that ever a poor girl had. It is hard upon
you,--and upon me. I have given up everything,--and what good have I
done?"

"It is hard, my dear."

"But after all I do not care much for all that. The thing has been
going on so long that one is used to it."

"What is it then?"

"Ah;--yes;--what is it? How am I to tell you?"

"Surely you can tell me," said the old woman, putting out her hand so
as to caress the arm of the younger one.

"I could tell no one else; I am sure of that. Frank Tregear has taken
to gambling,--like the rest of them."

"Who says so?"

"He has lost a lot of money at these races. A man who sat next me
at dinner,--one of those stupid do-nothing fools that one meets
everywhere,--told me so. He is one of the Beargarden set, and of
course he knows all about it."

"Did he say how much?"

"How is he to pay anything? Of all things that men do this is the
worst. A man who would think himself disgraced for ever if he
accepted a present of money will not scruple to use all his wits to
rob his friend of everything that he has by studying the run of cards