for a couple of sovereigns, and I took it
literally."

"If you say so, I am sure. I didn't doubt you: I only told you that you
might understand why I asked." She put the money, a sovereign and two
halves, into his unwilling hand. Then he understood her relief, for,
looking down into the little sealskin purse, he saw that there was no
more gold in it. The last ten shillings must have been counted out in
silver, and he was not quite sure it would not have ended in a
threepenny piece and some halfpence.

"Now I am going to ask a favor," she said. "Don't lend Bertie any more,
please. He has been used to spend just what he liked, and he doesn't
think, poor boy! And it is only wasted. Don't let him have any more."

"But, Miss Lisle," said Percival, "if your brother asks me do you mean
that I am to say 'No'?"

"Please, if you would. He mustn't be extravagant: we can't afford it. He
can't pay you back, and if I lost any of my work--Mrs. Barton's lessons,
for instance--I couldn't either."

"_You_ work to pay _me_!" exclaimed Percival aghast: "I won't hear of
such a thing. Miss Lisle, you mustn't! It's between Bertie and myself,
and I shouldn't be ruined if he didn't pay me till his ship comes home
one of these days. Take it back, please, and he and I will arrange it."

She shook her head: "No: my brother's debts are mine."

"Ah!" said Percival, with a swift, eloquent glance. "Then let me be your
creditor a little longer: I hardly know what it feels like, yet."

"Since when has _your_ ship come home, Mr. Thorne, that you can afford
to be so generous?"

The blood mounted to his forehead at her question, but he answered
quickly: "My ship has not come home. Perhaps if it had I should not dare
to ask you to let me help you. I feel as if our poverty made us all
nearer together."

"It is not every one who would say so in your place," Judith replied. "I
_am_ your debtor for those words. But we Lisles have wronged you too
much already: you shouldn't try to make the load heavier."

"Wronged me?" he faltered.

"Did you think I did not know? My father had your money and ruined you:
deny it if you can! I suspected it, and lately I have been sure. Oh, if
Bertie and I could pay you back! But meanwhile he shall not borrow from
you and waste your earnings on his silly whims. If you lend him any more
you may try to hide it from me, but I shall find it out, and I will pay
it--every farthing. I will find some way, if I have to sit up