"Two thousand pounds."
Clarice sat down gasping. "Two thousand pounds and in one year," she said, utterly bewildered, "Ferdy, you--you fool."
"There," said the young man, bitterly. "I make a clean breast of it because you want me to, and then you bullyrag me. But here," he pulled a sheaf of papers out of his breast pocket, "I had intended to give these to Barras when the will was read, thinking that I would get my own money, and that Barras would be able to arrange for the payment. But when I spoke to him just now, he referred me to you as my guardian. Here is a list of my debts with the bills attached. If you will pay these off, Clarry, I swear to turn over a new leaf. You needn't look so angrily at me. I am no worse than other chaps."
"My poor boy," said Clarice, mournfully; "I am not angry, but only sorry for your weakness. But I am forced to be strong, since I have to deal with a reed. I shall take these"--she reached for the bills--"and they will be paid, as soon as I can arrange--on conditions."
"Conditions." Ferdy began to gloom again. "What conditions?"
"Firstly, that you have nothing more to do with Zara Dumps. I am quite sure that she has led you into spending money."
"There's nothing wrong about her," grumbled Ferdy, wincing; "Zara is perfectly respectable."
"I dare say, seeing that I have heard how she wishes to make a good marriage. All the same, she is not averse to making use of you to amuse her, and her amusements are expensive. You must give her up."
"Oh, I'm quite agreeable," said Ferdy, readily; then added, in a most candid manner, "the fact is, Clarry, I must give her up, as she has chucked me."
"I see," said Clarice, rather disgusted, "you make a virtue of necessity. Still, so long as you give her up, I don't ask for your reason."