Then, without waiting to inform himself as to whether the squire wished the conversation dropped or continued, he added, "He was in a miserable condition,—destitute, with a dying wife and child."
"Child! Eh? What?"
"Yes, a son; a little chap, nothing but skin and bone and black eyes,—an Italian Sandal."
The squire was silent a few minutes; then he asked in a slow, constrained voice, "What did you do?"
"Harry sent for me in order that we might discuss a certain proposal he wished to make me. I have accepted it—reluctantly accepted it; but really it appeared the only way to help him to any purpose."
"What did Harry want? Eh? What?"
"He wanted to go to America, and begin a new life, and found a new house there; and, as he had determined never under any circumstances to visit Sandal-Side again, he asked me to give him the money necessary for emigration."
"Did you?"
"Yes, I did."