“It is rather an awkward position, especially as there has always been a tacit understanding that Phil and Mollie would marry when they attained a suitable age,” Mr. Temple remarked.
“Oh, that must now be regarded only as children’s play—which it really was, after all,” Mrs. Temple hastily interposed, but flushing as she remembered how eager she had always been to help on the “children’s play.” “Of course, I should have been willing to have had such a marriage consummated if things had remained as they were. Perhaps—do you think there is any possibility that Mr. Heatherford will ever retrieve his fortune?”
“I should say that is very doubtful,” said the man, suddenly averting his eyes beneath his wife’s earnest look. “Having told you so much, I may as well tell you that a very short time will settle his fate, either one way or the other, for he has risked all he has upon one throw.”
“Heavens! Will, you don’t mean it is as bad as that with them!” gasped Mrs. Temple, in dismay.
“Yes, Heatherford told me all about his affairs this morning, while we were out driving, and if he loses in this last venture he will be absolutely penniless.”
“That seems dreadful. Is he speculating in stocks?”
“I—I really feel that I should not say what he is doing,” returned Mr. Temple, with some embarrassment. “All this has been strictly confidential, you understand.”
“Does Mollie know of her father’s misfortunes?”
“Yes, and her father says that she has been the greatest comfort to him throughout all his trouble—especially when Mrs. Heatherford sickened and died; and now she tells him that, if worse comes to worst, she can teach and take care of them both. He says she is an exceptionally bright scholar—that in the school at Heidelberg, where she graduated, she was offered a fine salary to remain and teach elocution and rhetoric; she also speaks four languages fluently.”