The boy bowed his head for a few moments.
“How did this happen?” he exclaimed suddenly.
“It is a long story—perhaps you are not old enough to understand.”
“I’m old enough to have to understand.”
“It was your father. He mortgaged the plantation. After he died your mother could not even pay the interest on the borrowed money.”
“To whom do we owe this money?”
Major Carey moved a little uneasily.
“To the Barber Bank, principally.”
“To any one else?”
Again the old Virginian squirmed.