"Asked you to give him sixpence!" Mr. Willis cried in surprise, and Angel, glancing at him quickly, saw he looked very vexed. "Did you let him have it, Uncle Edward?" he asked.
"No, I did not. I told him I considered he spent too much money, and lectured him on his extravagance! I really think, John, you should interfere; I believe he keeps Angel poor by borrowing from her."
"Oh, Uncle Edward!" the little girl cried, starting violently. "How did you find out that? I never told you."
"I overheard your brother asking you for money one day, my dear, and I have noticed that rarely spend any on yourself, so I drew my own conclusions. Ah, I see I am right!"
She did not know what to say. Her father watched the changing expressions of her face with growing wonderment, and noted that her grey eyes were full of tears.
"Angel, how long has this been going on?" he asked.
"What, father?"
"How long has Gerald been in the habit of borrowing money from you?"
"A—a long while," she confessed in low tones. "Ever since we have been at Haresdown House?"
"Yes."