"I believe I must tell you quickly, for this pain rages and rages, and I can scarcely collect my thoughts. Now then, Rosamund, these are the bare facts. Six months ago I fell in love with Hetty. Her other name doesn't matter, and who she was doesn't matter. I used to meet her in the mornings when she walked to a school where she was teaching. We were married and I took her to some lodgings in Putney." "But you had no money." "Well, I had scarcely any. I used to make an odd pound now and then by bringing home work to copy, and Hetty did not lose her situation as teacher. She still went to the school, and she told no one of her marriage. I meant to break it to you all when I began to get my salary, for you know my time of apprenticeship will expire at Christmas. Things wouldn't have turned out so badly, for Hetty has the simplest tastes, poor little darling, if she had not somehow or other got this horrible scarlet fever. She was so afraid I'd take her to the hospital; but not I!--the landlady and I nursed her between us." "But, Jack, where did you get the money?" The heavy flush got deeper on my brother's brow. He turned his head away, and his manner became almost gruff. "That's the awkward part," he growled. "I--I borrowed the money." "From whom?" "Chillingfleet." "Mr Chillingfleet? He's the head of your firm, isn't he?" "Yes, yes. I went into his room one day. His private drawer was open; I took four five-pound notes. That was last Monday. He won't miss them until next Monday--the day he makes up his accounts. I thought Hetty was dying, and the notes stared me in the face, and I--I _borrowed_ them. He has tens of thousands of pounds, and I--I borrowed twenty." "Jack--Jack--you stole them!" I covered my face with my hands; I trembled all over. "Oh, don't, Rose! call me by every ugly name you like--there, I know I'm a brute." "No, you're not," I said. I had recovered myself by this time. I looked at his poor flushed face, at his trembling hands. He was a thief, he had brought disgrace upon our poor but honest name, but at this moment I loved him fifty times better than George. "Listen to me, Jack," I said. "I won't say one other word to abuse you at present. What's more, I will do what I can to help you." "God bless you, Rosamund. You don't really mean that? Really and truly?" "I really and truly mean it. Now lie down and let me put these sheets straight. This is Friday. Something can be done between now and Monday. Are you quite sure that Mr Chillingfleet will not find out the loss of the notes before Monday?" "Yes, he always banks on Monday, and he makes up his accounts then. Rose, you have got no money; you cannot save me." "I have certainly got no money, Jack, but I have got woman's wit. Have you spent all the twenty pounds?" "Every farthing. I owed a lot to Mrs Ashton, Hetty's landlady." "Now you must give me Hetty's address."