“Quite right, Frank. And, indeed, I am a little afraid that, when your father knows the total, he may execute a threat that would be very unpleasant to you.”
“What’s that?”
“Make you sell out, and give up London.”
“The devil!” exclaimed Frank, with fervent emphasis; “that would be treating me like a child.”
“Why, it would make you seem rather ridiculous to your set, which is not a very rural one. And you, who like London so much, and are so much the fashion!”
“Don’t talk of it,” cried Frank, walking to and fro the room in great disorder.
“Perhaps, on the whole, it might be well not to say all you owe, at once. If you named half the sum, your father would let you off with a lecture; and really I tremble at the effect of the total.”
“But how shall I pay the other half?”
“Oh, you must save from your allowance; it is a very liberal one; and the tradesmen are not pressing.”
“No; but the cursed bill-brokers—”