“Have you got any property of Gilbert’s, father?” asked Randolph.
“This is not the time to ask such questions,” said his father, looking annoyed.
“Why not? There is no company—no one but ourselves.”
“Ahem!” said Mr. Briggs, clearing his throat: “there was a very small property, but it has all been spent on Gilbert’s education.”
“Who left him the property?” asked Randolph, persistently.
Gilbert was interested in the answer to this question, and he looked with eager inquiry at his guardian, hoping that he would reveal what he had so long desired to know.
“You are very curious,” said Mr. Briggs, displeased.
“There’s no reason why you shouldn’t tell me; is there, father?”
“No,” answered his father, slowly. “The money was left him by his father, who was an old schoolmate of mine. He died in the West Indies, and sent me the money in trust for his son, to provide for him as long as it lasted. It was exhausted nearly a year since, but I kept Gilbert at school till now at my own expense. Now the time has come when he must shift for himself.”
“Rather hard on you, Gilbert,” said Randolph.