"One of our fellows at school, and I gave him a black eye for it, for he said my father wasn't honest, living as he did."
"Arthur, how dare anybody say such a thing of dear Papa! I am sure he was a perfect gentleman," exclaimed Molly, flaming with wrath.
"Yes, but he hated trouble, and would never bother his head about business, and everything was in a muddle when his father died, and the muddle got worse, of course, as time went on and more money was wanted, and things were never put straight."
"How did you find out all about this?" asked his sister.
"Partly from Papa himself. I asked him one day, about a year ago, if I could not go to Eton with a fellow who was going just then, and he said he should like to send me, but he could not afford it, we were 'as poor as church mice'. Then I had that quarrel with Strangeways, and he told me Papa was no better than a swindler, living as we did and never paying our debts. Of course I didn't believe that, but I kept my eyes and ears open from that time, and I can pretty well make out that Strangeways didn't tell much of a lie after all. Now you can understand, Molly, why I wanted to earn some money as soon as I could. And—and we must try to pay for everything we have, for it is dishonest, I can see, to eat and drink things we cannot afford to pay for."
Molly heaved a sigh. "Does Annie know about this?" she asked.
"No, not a word, and I did not mean to tell you until I was obliged. But you had better try and remember when Mamma wants sole for those cats!"
"What are you saying about the cats, Master Arthur?" said Hannah, bustling into the kitchen at this moment. "What mess is this, Miss Molly?" she demanded, turning to the frying-pan on the fire.
"Oh, dear! I hope it isn't spoiled. I was making an omelette for Arthur's supper, only I forgot all about it while I was talking to—"
"Wasting my eggs in this fashion!" snorted Hannah.