Finding he was out of place at that moment, Phillip bowed in a hurried manner, looked for his handkerchief and gloves, which were thrown about the sofa pillows, and left the room with a flushed face. “Charles,” at length Sir Richard began, looking the young man sternly in the face, “what am I to understand by your unaccountable conduct?” A solemn pause. “Good heavens!” mentally ejaculated Charley, “I am discovered, disgraced, and punished, and all so soon!” Overcome with emotion, he hung his head in shame and perspired unnaturally at every pore. “What am I to think of you, sir? Is _this_ the reward of all my labour, anxiety, money, and solicitude? Have I not educated you, taken you by the hand, and lifted you up step by step to what you are, eh? And do you now, when I expect to see all my labours rewarded, turn round upon me, and disgrace me?” “Spare me! Sir Richard! spare me, for heaven’s sake! My heart is bursting, and my brain is all on fire,” said Charles, mournfully, averting his head from the old man’s gaze. “There are very few things which occur _in_ the India House or out of it which do not quickly reach _my_ ears, Charles. I only heard of it just now, sir, and must confess I felt shocked. Good Dame Worthington told me.” “Dame Worthington?” said Charley, astonished. “How could she have known it?” “Yes, Dame Worthington knew it? Why, of course she does, and every one in the house! Isn’t it the talk of the whole neighbourhood?” The young man’s agony was painful, and his face became more haggard in a few moments from mental suffering than age could have effected during a course of years. “What do you think they will do with me, Sir Richard? I shall plead guilty, and save unnecessary trouble and expense.” “Guilty? Yes, I think so, when so many were witness to it; and your sentence will be to reform, keep early hours, leave wine parties alone and gambling, and beg the old dame’s pardon for swearing at her to-night.” Had he been shot Charley could not have been more suddenly startled. Starting to his feet, and looking wildly about him, he comprehended all—Sir Richard knew nothing of his having the bills; and, with a heavy sigh, which then escaped him, there was lifted an insupportable weight of doubt and pain from his soul, and he breathed more freely and rapidly as one who has been running fast, or carrying a heavy load. Infinitely relieved, the young man even attempted to smile at the unexpected and fortunate turn his imaginings had taken, and, with as much self-command as he could bring to bear upon the conversation, laughed, and begged Sir Richard’s pardon for his wild life of late, and inebriety that night, when the kind old dame was knocked over in the passage, and his own nose had come into violent contact with the stairs. When Sir Richard had departed, in good humour with the repentant youth, Charley drew the sofa nearer to the fire, and began to congratulate himself upon escaping an anticipated suspicion.