"As circumstances are with me now, it would leave me with a very narrow margin to live upon," he replied; "but even were it still smaller, I would gladly make the sacrifice." "What about your marriage? I hope you don't forget that the burthen you propose saddling yourself with is not merely a question of a year or two, but of the lifetime of your mother, who, we have every reason to hope and believe, may live for many years to come." "As for my marriage, it would have to be put off till more prosperous times," replied Clem, not without a stifled sigh. "Very well; but there is another feature which you may not, perhaps, have considered. Supposing the twelve thousand pounds to have been refunded in accordance with your wish, in the case of my mother's death, how would you propose to make up Fanny's one-third share of it to which she is entitled by my father's will? She may be married before that time, in which case the four thousand pounds she supposes herself to be ultimately entitled to will naturally be considered, both by her and her husband, as a certainty which nothing can deprive them of." "That is a point which certainly failed to strike me," answered Clem. "But let me answer your question by asking another. Supposing the money not to have been refunded, in case of my mother's death would you be willing to touch your share of an amount to which morally you have no more right than has any of your clerks who are at work in the next room?" Edward bit his lips. "No," he said emphatically, after a pause; "in such a case as you speak of, not one shilling of the money would be touched by me." "I could have vouched for your answer beforehand," said Clem, with a smile of triumph. "Now that you have confessed thus much, it is impossible for you to stop there. You are as convinced as I am, my dear Ned, that the twelve thousand pounds must be refunded. As honorable men no other course is open to us." He looked at his watch, and then rose and pushed back his chair. "I find I have not another minute to spare," he said, as he gripped his brother's hand. "But now that we are agreed as to the main point at issue, the settlement of the details can be left till I see you next." It was on Edward's lips to say, "I have agreed to nothing," but some feeling restrained him.