"I think you are stronger to-day, sir."
"If I am not, I cannot blame you for it. Will you answer me one question truly."
"If I answer it at all, sir."
"Then tell me why you—all of you—spend your hard-earned money—which you will sorely want—on one to whom you owe nothing, and whom you have never pretended to love?"
Aymer reddened and hesitated. At last he said, bluntly, "We could not help doing so plain a duty as this."
"So you all spend your money, and Helen her time and strength, because it is your duty. I want to know who taught you that?"
"My mother—she began it; and surely she did hers. And then Clarice got us to read the Bible. It's all there, you know, sir."
"Boy," said Mr. Egerton, half angrily, "no one could do as you are doing merely because it is written in a book!"
"I'm no good at explaining, sir. And if you put yourself out, you'll be bad again."
Next day, Mr. Egerton asked Helen to write and tell Clarice that he wanted to see her.