"I must tell you the truth," said Lawson. "There's no help for it. Your brother will go straight to the bad if he is not rescued, and that at once." "What do you mean? Oh, how you frighten me!" Effie's face was as white as a sheet. "I am ever so sorry," said Lawson; "but what is the use of keeping back the truth? George has had no rise of salary--indeed, if he is not careful, he is mother has gone far beyond our means. She hasn't [Transcriber's note: text of this paragraph in original is as shown and ends abruptly at this point.] "Then how does he get his money?" "He gets it by gambling." "Gambling! Oh, no! oh, no!" said Effie. She had the horror of that vice which a pure-minded, well-brought-up girl must ever have. "It is true," said Lawson; "it gives me the greatest pain to tell you anything so bad of your brother, but there's no help for it." "But how do you know?" interrupted Effie. "I know by the best of evidence. I have had my suspicions for some time, but I happened to see him coming out of one of those places last week--yes, I must tell you, I saw him coming out of a gambling den. I think he goes night after night. At present he is winning more than he loses, but that is always the game for drawing fellows on." "It must be stopped," said Effie. She felt quite faint and sick. If her mother knew this it would kill her on the spot. They had nearly reached the hospital, and Effie turned and faced Lawson. "You don't half know what this means to me," she said. "George is not exactly like an ordinary brother. When my father died quite suddenly of diphtheria some months ago, he left my mother in George's care. If George goes to the bad now, she will certainly die; you must have noticed for yourself how she is wrapped up in him." "Yes; no one could fail to notice it. I think her love for him beautiful; and he loves her, too. Poor fellow! that is his great redeeming point." "Oh, I don't call it real love," said Effie, almost with passion--"to deceive her as he does--to do wrong, and that sort of wrong. Oh, I think my heart will break!" Tears choked her voice, she had the greatest possible difficulty in keeping them back. Lawson took out his watch. "You are not late," he said. "Let us take a turn round this square." They had entered an old-fashioned square where there were very few people. They walked round and round the dismal central garden for some time. Lawson talked, and Effie listened. After a time they decided that George's perilous downward career must be stopped at any cost. Lawson said he would make it his business to see George the following evening, to tell him quite frankly what he knew, and, in short, to compel him, if necessary, to do what was right.