"Who am I?" said Miss Cassewary.
"About the dearest friend that ever a poor girl had. It is hard upon you,—and upon me. I have given up everything,—and what good have I done?"
"It is hard, my dear."
"But after all I do not care much for all that. The thing has been going on so long that one is used to it."
"What is it then?"
"Ah;—yes;—what is it? How am I to tell you?"
"Surely you can tell me," said the old woman, putting out her hand so as to caress the arm of the younger one.
"I could tell no one else; I am sure of that. Frank Tregear has taken to gambling,—like the rest of them."
"Who says so?"
"He has lost a lot of money at these races. A man who sat next me at dinner,—one of those stupid do-nothing fools that one meets everywhere,—told me so. He is one of the Beargarden set, and of course he knows all about it."