"Yes, my love, yes. Effie, you are a very good girl--a great comfort to me, my darling. I'm glad you never went to the hospital; it was a mad, foolish scheme, and George never liked it. You are a great comfort to me, and a great comfort to your dear brother. You'll be sure to give him his dinner comfortably when he comes back, Effie?" "Yes, mother, yes. Now do go to sleep, dear mother." Mrs. Staunton drank off the medicine, laid her head on her pillow, and closed her dim, dark eyes. Effie watched by her until she thought she was dropping asleep. Pretty little Marjory was lying sound asleep in the same bed. Phil opened his big eyes as his sister passed. "Is anything the matter?" he whispered. "Is anything wrong with George?" "Pray for him, Phil," said Effie, tears suddenly filling her eves. "Yes, yes," said the little fellow. "I always do." Effie went into the next room. "You have plenty of pluck, haven't you?" said Lawson, when he saw her. "I hope so--I had need to have." "Yes, I know that. Well, that unfortunate boy has put his foot in it at last,--he is in trouble,--detectives are after him." "Detectives after George!" exclaimed Effie. "What can you possibly mean? Oh, do tell me at once--don't leave me in suspense." "Sit down and I will tell you. Try not to agitate yourself, try to listen to me quietly. Remember that a brave woman can always control her nerves." Effie sat down when Lawson bade her. Something in his quiet but resolute voice soothed her impatience; she looked up at him as he stood by the mantelpiece, resting one arm on it. "The facts are these," he began at once; "Staunton has been going wrong for a long time----" "I know it--I know it well," interrupted Effie. "Yes, I feared that you knew it. Poor fellow, soon after his arrival in London he got with bad companions. He has naturally extravagant tastes--they introduced him to some of those gambling saloons. Given a weak nature, the love of money for the pleasure it can give, a will weakened with self-indulgence, and the result is easy to forecast. George has been going from bad to worse for months past. He has sometimes won considerable sums of money, and these successes have excited him to try again--with this devil's luck, as the saying is. Of late, however, that luck has turned against him, and the events which took place to-day are only the natural consequences." Effie rose slowly from her seat. "Go on," she said, coming up to Lawson. "What took place to-day? Go on, please,--I am quiet,--I am prepared for anything." Lawson gave her a look of admiration.