"Why they say that when a woman commences with girls, she generally goes on, and the odds are two to one that Mrs M-- has a girl. I have taken the odds at the clubs to the amount of fifteen thousand pounds; so if it be a girl I shall have to pay that out of my fifteen thousand pounds per annum, as soon as I fall into it; if it be a boy, and I am floored, I shall pocket thirty thousand pounds by way of consolation for the disappointment. They are all good men." "Yes, but they know you never pay." "They know I never do now, because I have no money; but they know I will pay if I come into the estate; and so I will, most honourably, besides a few more thousands that I have in my book." "I congratulate you, with all my heart, major. How old is the present Lord B--?" "I have just been examining the peerage--he is sixty-two; but he is very fresh and hearty, and may live a long while yet. By-the-by, Newland, I committed a great error last night at the club. I played pretty high, and lost a great deal of money." "That is unfortunate." "That was not the error; I actually paid all my losings, Newland, and it has reduced the stock amazingly, I lost seven hundred and fifty pounds. I know I ought not to have paid away your money; but the fact was, as I was hedging, it would not do not to have paid, as I could not have made up my book as I wished. It is, however, only waiting a few weeks, till Mrs M-- decides my fate, and then, either one way or the other, I shall have money enough. If your people won't give you any more till you are of age, why we must send to a little friend of mine, that's all, and you shall borrow for both of us." "Borrow!" replied I, not much liking the idea; "they will never lend me money." "Won't they?" replied the major; "no fear of that. Your signature, and my introduction, will be quite sufficient." "We had better try to do without it, major; I do not much like it." "Well, if we can, we will; but I have not fifty pounds left in my desk; how much have you?" "About twenty," replied I, in despair at this intelligence; "but I think there is a small sum left at the banker's; I will go and see." I took up my hat and set off, to ascertain what funds we might have in store. PART TWO, CHAPTER FOUR. I AM OVER HEAD AND EARS IN TROUBLE ABOUT A LADY'S EAR-RING--COMMIT MYSELF SADLY, AND AM VERY NEARLY COMMITTED.