m see his
father's and mother's faces no more, grew louder and more persistent. If
he could not cut himself adrift from those who he knew would hamper him,
when so small an effort was wanted, his dream of a destiny was idle; what
was the prospect of a hundred pounds from his father in comparison with
jeopardy to this? He still felt deeply the pain his disgrace had
inflicted upon his father and mother, but he was getting stronger, and
reflected that as he had run his chance with them for parents, so they
must run theirs with him for a son.

He had nearly settled down to this conclusion when he received a letter
from his father which made his decision final. If the prison rules had
been interpreted strictly, he would not have been allowed to have this
letter for another three months, as he had already heard from me, but the
governor took a lenient view, and considered the letter from me to be a
business communication hardly coming under the category of a letter from
friends. Theobald's letter therefore was given to his son. It ran as
follows:--

"My dear Ernest, My object in writing is not to upbraid you with the
disgrace and shame you have inflicted upon your mother and myself, to
say nothing of your brother Joey, and your sister. Suffer of course
we must, but we know to whom to look in our affliction, and are filled
with anxiety rather on your behalf than our own. Your mother is
wonderful. She is pretty well in health, and desires me to send you
her love.

"Have you considered your prospects on leaving prison? I understand
from Mr Overton that you have lost the legacy which your grandfather
left you, together with all the interest that accrued during your
minority, in the course of speculation upon the Stock Exchange! If
you have indeed been guilty of such appalling folly it is difficult to
see what you can turn your hand to, and I suppose you will try to find
a clerkship in an office. Your salary will doubtless be low at first,
but you have made your bed and must not complain if you have to lie
upon it. If you take pains to please your employers they will not be
backward in promoting you.

"When I first heard from Mr Overton of the unspeakable calamity which
had befallen your mother and myself, I had resolved not to see you
again. I am unwilling, however, to have recourse to a measure which
would deprive you of your last connecting link wit