“Indeed, papa, I had no idea you were so rich.”
“A kind friend lent me this money yesterday.”
“Who was it, papa?”
“You remember a man who came to see us a fortnight since,—a tall man with a white hat?”
“Yes, papa.”
“He lent me the money.”
“Did you ask him, papa?”
“No; it was his own generous offer.”
“But suppose he should want you to pay it by and by, and you did not have the money?” suggested Helen, uneasily.
“There is no fear on that score. He desires to assist me with my invention, and suggested, very properly, that with improved materials my progress would become more rapid. Once let me succeed, and I shall be able to repay the loan, if it were twice as large. He will never think of asking me for it before. He is a very generous-hearted man, Helen, and he only called it a loan because he knew that I should be unwilling to accept a gift.”