"They shall have a jolly picking that pick out thee!" growled Aunt Rachel. "Or to have open door of full many honourable houses,--and good credit, that there is not a craftsman in London that should not count it honour to serve me with such goods as I might choose?" pursued Jack. "A mighty barren honour, Jack, on thine own showing." "Jack!" interposed Sir Thomas, who had seemed deep in thought for a minute, "tell me honestly,--of this five thousand pound, if so be, how much was lost at the dice?" "Why, Sir!--you did not count I should reckon my debts of honour?" Sir Thomas groaned within himself. "Debts of honour!" cried Rachel. "What, be there a parcel more?" "These be trade-debts, Aunt!" said Jack, with an injured air,--"debts that I can defray or leave, as it may stand with conveniency. My debts of honour must be paid, of course!--I looked to your bounty, Sir, for that. They be not much--but a light thousand or twelve hundred pound, I take it." That is to say, about 15,000 pounds to 18,000 pounds. "Jack!" said his father, "dost remember thou hast two sisters yet unwed?" "One, Sir, under your good pleasure," replied Jack suavely. "Two," gravely repeated Sir Thomas. "I will set no difference betwixt Blanche and Clare. And they be to portion, lad; and we have all to live. I cannot pay thy debts of honour and see to these likewise. And, Jack, the trade-debts, as thou callest them, must come first." "Sir!" exclaimed Jack aghast. "I say, the trade-debts must stand first," repeated his father firmly. "A gentleman never puts his trade-debts before his debts of honour, Sir!" cried Jack in a tone of intense disgust mixed with amazement. "I know not what you gentlemen of the Court may account honour nor honesty, Sir," replied Sir Thomas, now sternly; "but I am a plain honest man, that knows nought of Court fashions, for the which His good providence I thank God. And if it be honest to heap up debt that thou hast no means of paying to thy certain knowledge, then I know not the signification of honesty." "But I must play, Sir!" replied Jack--in the tone with which he might have said, "I must breathe." "Then thou must pay," said Sir Thomas shortly. "Must play, quotha!" interjected Rachel. "Thou must be a decent lad,-- that is all the must I see." "Come, be not too hard on the lad!" pleaded Lady Enville, fanning herself elegantly. "Of course he must live as other young men." "That is it, Madam!" responded Jack eagerly, turning to his welcome ally. "I cannot affect singularity--'tis not possible." "Of course not," said Lady Enville, who quite agreed with Jack's sentiments, as women of her type generally do. "Thou canst affect honesty, trow," retorted Rachel. "Sir," said Jack, earnestly addressing his father, "I do entreat you, look on this matter in a reasonable fashion." "That is it which I would fain do, Jack."