"Well, mother what luck with grandfather?" he cried anxiously, as he strode into the study. "I hear you've been up to the Hall. You are a brick to beard the old lion as you do." "Yes, I've been lucky this time. I've screwed out some more for all of us--quite a large sum this time. I put forward unanswerable arguments--the expense of your outfit--our responsibilities--our debts, and all sorts of things, and then got your grandfather to include everything in one check. It's for five thousand." She dropped her eyes nervously, and heard him catch his breath. "Five thousand!" "Not all for you, Dick," she hastened to add, "though your debts must be paid. There was a man here this morning to arrest you. At least, that was what he threatened; but they don't do such things, do they?" "Arrest me?" "Yes. It was an awful blow to your father." "Arrest!" he groaned. "I feared it. But you've got five thousand. It'll save us all!" "The check isn't cashed yet. Here it is." He seized the little slip eagerly, his eyes glistening. It was his respite, and might mean the end of all their troubles. "I really must pay all my smaller debts, mother," said Dick, as he looked down at the forged check. "You don't know what a mean hound I've felt in not being able to pay the smaller tradesmen, for they are more decent than the bigger people. Five thousand! Only think of it. What a brick the old man is, after all." "How much do your debts amount to, Dick?" asked Mrs. Swinton, in some trepidation. "I hardly know; but the ones which must be paid before I go will amount to a good many hundreds, I fear." "Oh, Dick! I'm sorry, but need all be paid now? You see, the money is badly wanted for other things." "Well, mother, I might not come back. I might be killed. And I'd like to feel that I'd left all straight at home." "Don't, Dick, don't!" she sobbed, rising and flinging her arms about him. She was much overwrought, and her tears fell fast. Dick embraced his beautiful mother, and kissed her with an affection that was almost lover-like. "Mother, I really must pay up everyone before I go. You see, some of them look upon it as their last chance. They think that, if I once get out of the country, I shall never come back." "But I was hoping to help your father. He's getting quite white with worry. Have you noticed how he has aged lately?" "I don't wonder at it, mother. Look at the way he works, writing half the night, tearing all over the town during the day, doing the work of six men. If you could manage another fifteen hundred for me, mother, I could go away happy. Don't cry. You see, if I shouldn't come back--you've got Netty." "What! Haven't you heard?" she asked. "Don't you know that Netty is going to leave us? Harry Bent proposed yesterday afternoon at the Ocklebournes'. He's going away, too--and you may neither of you come back."