“Well, mother what luck with grandfather?” he cried anxiously, as he strode into the study. “I hear you’ve been up to the Hall. You are a brick to beard the old lion as you do.”
“Yes, I’ve been lucky this time. I’ve screwed out some more for all of us—quite a large sum this time. I put forward unanswerable arguments—the expense of your outfit—our responsibilities—our debts, and all sorts of things, and then got your grandfather to include everything in one check. It’s for five thousand.”
She dropped her eyes nervously, and heard him catch his breath.
“Five thousand!”
“Not all for you, Dick,” she hastened to add, “though your debts must be paid. There was a man here this morning to arrest you. At least, that was what he threatened; but they don’t do such things, do they?”
“Arrest me?”
“Yes. It was an awful blow to your father.” 77
“Arrest!” he groaned. “I feared it. But you’ve got five thousand. It’ll save us all!”
“The check isn’t cashed yet. Here it is.”
He seized the little slip eagerly, his eyes glistening. It was his respite, and might mean the end of all their troubles.