"What do you mean? Oh, how you frighten me!"
Effie's face was as white as a sheet.
"I am ever so sorry," said Lawson; "but what is the use of keeping back the truth? George has had no rise of salary—indeed, if he is not careful, he is mother has gone far beyond our means. She hasn't [Transcriber's note: text of this paragraph in original is as shown and ends abruptly at this point.]
"Then how does he get his money?"
"He gets it by gambling."
"Gambling! Oh, no! oh, no!" said Effie.
She had the horror of that vice which a pure-minded, well-brought-up girl must ever have.
"It is true," said Lawson; "it gives me the greatest pain to tell you anything so bad of your brother, but there's no help for it."
"But how do you know?" interrupted Effie.
"I know by the best of evidence. I have had my suspicions for some time, but I happened to see him coming out of one of those places last week—yes, I must tell you, I saw him coming out of a gambling den. I think he goes night after night. At present he is winning more than he loses, but that is always the game for drawing fellows on."