nce of horror at the thing that had been
done was very grievous to Captain Marrable.

"Poor Wat!" the parson had once said, speaking of his wicked brother;
"he never could keep two shillings together. It's ever so long since
I had to determine that nothing on earth should induce me to let him
have half-a-crown. I must say that he did not take it amiss when I
told him."

"Why should he have wanted half-a-crown from you?"

"He was always one of those thirsty sandbags that swallow small drops
and large alike. He got L10,000 out of poor Gregory about the time
that you were born, and Gregory is fretting about it yet."

"What kills me is the disgrace of it," said the young man.

"It would be disagreeable to have it in the newspapers," said Parson
John. "And then he was such a pleasant fellow, and so handsome. I
always enjoyed his society when once I had buttoned up my breeches'
pocket."

Yet this man was a clergyman, preaching honesty and moral conduct,
and living fairly well up to his preaching, too, as far as he himself
was concerned! The Captain almost thought that the earth and skies
should be brought together, and the clouds clap with thunder, and
the mountains be riven in twain at the very mention of his father's
wickedness. But then sins committed against oneself are so much more
sinful than any other sins.

The Captain had much more sympathetic listeners in Uphill Lane; not
that either of the ladies there spoke severely against his father,
but that they entered more cordially into his own distresses. If he
could save even L4500 out of the wreck, the interest on the money
would enable him to live at home in his regiment. If he could get
L4000 he would do it.

"With L150 per annum," he said, "I could just hold my head up and get
along. I should have to give up all manner of things; but I would
never cry about that."

Then, again, he would declare that the one thing necessary for his
happiness was, that he should get the whole business of the money off
his mind. "If I could have it settled, and have done with it," said
he, "I should be at ease."

"Quite right, my dear," said the old lady. "My idea about money is
this, that whether you have much or little, you should make your
arrangements so that it be no matter of thought to you. Your money
should be just like counters at a round game with children, and
should mean nothing. It comes to that when you once get things on a
proper footing."

They thus became