“Thank you, sir. If I borrowed from any one it would be from you. But my father has this very sum, five thousand pounds, and, as I tell him, I owe him so much that I have no compunction about owing him more.”
“No compunction! Surely there are some sacrifices which a son should not allow his parents to make.”
“Sacrifices! What do you mean?”
“Is it possible that you do not know how this money has been obtained?”
“I give you my word, Doctor Walker, that I have no idea. I asked my father, but he refused to tell me.”
“I thought not,” said the Doctor, the gloom clearing from his brow. “I was sure that you were not a man who, to clear yourself from a little money difficulty, would sacrifice the happiness of your mother and the health of your father.”
“Good gracious! what do you mean?”
“It is only right that you should know. That money represents the commutation of your father's pension. He has reduced himself to poverty, and intends to go to sea again to earn a living.”
“To sea again! Impossible!”
“It is the truth. Charles Westmacott has told Ida. He was with him in the City when he took his poor pension about from dealer to dealer trying to sell it. He succeeded at last, and hence the money.”