It was quite simply that she said these simple words. I felt no bitterness in her resignation--on the contrary, a kind of serenity. “But don’t imagine that things are worse than they are. It’s just a difficult moment to tide over, because some of the creditors are getting impatient.” “I heard the maid just now mention a tutor who was asking to be paid.” “Yes; he came and had a very painful scene with Grandfather, which unfortunately I was unable to prevent. He’s a brutal, vulgar man. I must go and pay him.” “Would you like me to do it for you?” She hesitated a moment, trying in vain to force a smile. “Thank you. No; I had better do it myself.... But come with me, will you? I’m rather frightened of him. If he sees you, he won’t dare say anything.” The school courtyard is separated from the garden by two or three steps and a balustrade, against which the tutor was leaning with his elbows thrust behind him. He had on an enormous soft felt hat and was smoking a pipe. While Rachel was engaging him, Armand came up to me. “Rachel has been bleeding you,” he said cynically. “You have come in the nick of time to save her from a horrid anxiety. It’s Alexander--my beast of a brother, who has been getting into debt again in the colonies. She wants to hide it from my parents. She has already given up half her ‘dot’ to make Laura’s a little larger; but this time all the rest of it has gone. She didn’t tell you anything about that, I bet. Her modesty exasperates me. It’s one of the most sinister jokes in this world below that every time anyone sacrifices himself for others, one may be perfectly certain he is worth more than they.... Just look at all she has done for Laura! And how she has rewarded her! The slut!...” “Armand!” I cried indignantly. “You have no right to judge your sister.” But he continued in a jerky, hissing voice: