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task； but he set himself to do it with quiet resolution。 At home they
waited in intense anxiety to learn the result of the meeting。 It was late
before he returned； haggard pale； like a man who has done and suffered
much。
〃What's this board in front of the house？ he asked。
〃We are going to try a little change of scene；〃 said the Admiral。 〃This
place is neither town nor country。 But never mind that； boy。 Tell us
what happened in the City。〃
〃God help me！ My wretched business driving you out of house and
home！〃 cried Harold； broken down by this fresh evidence of the effects of
his misfortunes。 〃It is easier for me to meet my creditors than to see you
two suffering so patiently for my sake。〃
〃Tut； tut！〃 cried the Admiral。 〃There's no suffering in the matter。
Mother would rather be near the theaters。 That's at the bottom of it； isn't
it； mother？ You come and sit down here between us and tell us all about
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it。〃
Harold sat down with a loving hand in each of his。
〃It's not so bad as we thought；〃 said he； 〃and yet it is bad enough。 I
have about ten days to find the money； but I don't know which way to turn
for it。 Pearson； however； lied； as usual； when he spoke of L13；000。 The
amount is not quite L7；000。〃
The Admiral claped his hands。 〃I knew we should weather it after all！
Hurrah my boy！ Hip； hip； hip； hurrah！〃
Harold gazed at him in surprise； while the old seaman waved his arm
above his head and bellowed out three stentorian cheers。 〃Where am I to
get seven thousand pounds from； dad？〃 he asked。
〃Never mind。 You spin your yarn。〃
〃Well； they were very good and very kind； but of course they must
have either their money or their money's worth。 They passed a vote of
sympathy with me； and agreed to wait ten days before they took any
proceedings。 Three of them； whose claim came to L3；500； told me that if
I would give them my personal I。O。U。； and pay interest at the rate of five
per cent； their amounts might stand over as long as I wished。 That would
be a charge of L175 upon my income； but with economy I could meet it；
and it diminishes the debt by one…half。〃
Again the Admiral burst out cheering。
〃There remains； therefore； about L3；200 which has to be found within
ten days。 No man shall lose by me。 I gave them my word in the room
that if I worked my soul out of my body every one of them should be paid。
I shall not spend a penny upon myself until it is done。 But some of them
can't wait。 They are poor men themselves； and must have their money。
They have issued a warrant for Pearson's arrest。 But they think that he
has got away the States。〃
〃These men shall have their money；〃 said the Admiral。
〃Dad！〃
〃Yes； my boy； you don't know the resources of the family。 One never
does know until one tries。 What have you yourself now？〃
〃I have about a thousand pounds invested。〃
〃All right。 And I have about as much more。 There's a good start。
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Now； mother； it is your turn。 What is that little bit of paper of yours？〃
Mrs。 Denver unfolded it； and placed it upon Harold's knee。
〃Five thousand pounds！〃 he gasped。
〃Ah； but mother is not the only rich one。 Look at this！〃 And the
Admiral unfolded his cheque； and placed it upon the other knee。
Harold gazed from one to the other in bewilderment。 〃Ten thousand
pounds！〃 he cried。 〃Good heavens！ where did these come from？〃
〃You will not worry any longer； dear；〃 murmured his mother； slipping
her arm round him。
But his quick eye had caught the signature upon one of the cheques。
〃Doctor Walker！〃 he cried； flushing。 〃This is Clara's doing。 Oh； dad；
we cannot take this money。 It would not be right nor honorable。〃
〃No； boy； I am glad you think so。 It is something； however； to have
proved one's friend； for a real good friend he is。 It was he who brought it
in； though Clara sent him。 But this other money will be enough to cover
everything； and it is all my own。〃
〃Your own？ Where did you get it； dad？〃
〃Tut； tut！ See what it is to have a City man to deal with。 It is my
own； and fairly earned； and that is enough。〃
〃Dear old dad！〃 Harold squeezed his gnarled hand。 〃And you；
mother！ You have lifted the trouble from my heart。 I feel another man。
You have saved my honor； my good name； everything。 I cannot owe you
more； for I owe you everything already。〃
So while the autumn sunset shone ruddily through the broad window
these three sat together hand in hand； with hearts which were too full to
speak。 Suddenly the soft thudding of tennis balls was heard； and Mrs。
Westmacott bounded into view upon the lawn with brandished racket and
short skirts fluttering in the breeze。 The sight came as a relief to their
strained nerves； and they burst all three into a hearty fit of laughter。
〃She is playing with her nephew；〃 said Harold at last。 〃The Walkers
have not come out yet。 I think that it would be well if you were to give
me that cheque； mother； and I were to return it in person。〃
〃Certainly； Harold。 I think it would be very nice。
He went in through the garden。 Clara and the Doctor were sitting
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together in the dining…room。 She sprang to her feet at the sight of him。
〃Oh； Harold； I have been waiting for you so impatiently；〃 she cried； 〃I
saw you pass the front windows half an hour ago。 I would have come in
if I dared。 Do tell us what has happened。〃
〃I have come in to thank you both。 How can I repay you for your
kindness？ Here is your cheque； Doctor。 I have not needed it。 I find
that I can lay my hands on enough to pay my creditors。〃
〃Thank God！〃 said Clara fervently。
〃The sum is less than I thought； and our resources considerably more。
We have been able to do it with ease。〃
〃With ease！〃 The Doctor's brow clouded and his manner grew cold。
〃I think； Harold； tha