. Determination does wonders in
such cases."

"I am not thinking of my death," answered Mr. Harman; "were death but
all, I could almost welcome it. No, it is not death, it is memory.
Jasper," he added, turning fiercely on his brother, "you were as the
very devil to me once, why do you come to preach such sorry comfort
now?"

Jasper Harman had an impenetrable face, but at these words it turned a
shade pale. He went to the fire and stirred it, he put on more coal, he
even arranged in a rather noisy way one or two of the chimney ornaments.

"If only that trustee had not died just then--and if only--only you had
not tempted me," continued the elder man.

"You forget, John," suddenly said Jasper, "what the alternative would
have been just then, absolute ruin, ruin coupled with disgrace!"

"I do not believe in the disgrace, and as to the ruin, we could have
started afresh. Oh! to start even now with but sixpence in my pocket,
and with clean hands! What would have been the old disgrace compared to
the present misery?"

"Take comfort, John, no one knows of it; and if we are but careful no
one need ever know. Don't excite yourself, be but careful, and no one
need ever know."

"God knows," answered the white-headed elder brother. And at these words
Jasper again turned his face away. After a time, in which he thought
briefly and rapidly, he turned, and sitting down by John, began to
speak.

"Something has come to my knowledge which may be a comfort to you. I did
not mention it earlier, because in your present state of health I know
you ought not to worry yourself. But as it seems you are so
over-sensitive, I may as well mention that it will be possible for you
to make reparation without exposing yourself."

"How?" asked Mr. Harman.

"I know where Daisy Harman's daughter lives--you know we completely lost
sight of her. I believe she is poor; she is married to a curate, all
curates are poor; they have three children. Suppose, suppose you
settled, say, well, half the money her mother had for her lifetime, on
this young woman. That would be seventy-five pounds a year; a great
difference seventy-five pounds would make in a poor home."

"A little of the robbery paid back," said Mr. Harman with a dreary
smile. "Jasper, you are a worse rogue than I am, and I believe you study
the Bible less. God knows I don't care to confront myself with its
morality, but I have a memory that it recommends, nay, commands, in the
case of res