"What is it, father?"
The Judge looked up in terror, and, meeting Vesta's pale but steady gaze, hid his face and groaned:
"Oh! it is too disgraceful to tell. It will break your mother's heart."
"Tell me at once!" exclaimed Vesta, in a low and hollow tone. "What further disgrace can this monster inflict upon us than to expose our dishonor? Can he kill us more than that?"
"I know not how to tell you, Vessy. Spare me, my darling! My face I hide for shame."
There was a pause, while Vesta, with her mind expanded to touch every point of suggestion, stood looking down at her father, yet hardly seeing him. He did not move.
Vesta stooped and raised her father's face to find some solution of his mysterious evasion. He shut his eyes as if she burned him with her wondering look.
"Papa, look at me this instant! You shall not be a coward to me."
He broke from her hands and retreated to a window, looking at her, but with a timorous countenance.
"I wish you to go this moment and find your creditor, Mr. Milburn, and bring him to me. You must obey me, sir!"