"Are you thinking of running away?" he said.
"Not running away," said Geoffrey. "I'm not going to do it in any secret sort of way; but I've made up my mind to go. And now that mother has thrown me over too, I don't suppose any one will care."
"You've not been going the way to make any one care, it strikes me," said Mr. Byrne. "But I have something to say to you, Geoff. One thing which has helped to make your poor mother ill has been anxiety about money matters. I had not wished her to know of it; but it was told her by mistake. I myself have known for some time that things were going wrong. But now the worst has come——"
"What is the worst?" asked Geoffrey. "Have we lost everything?"
"Yes," said Mr. Byrne, "I think that's about it."
"I think I should have been told this before," said Geoff.
"Well," said his uncle, "I'm not sure but that I agree with you. But your mother wished to save you as long as she could. And you have not borne small annoyances so well that she could hope for much comfort from you in a great trouble."
Geoff said nothing.
"I shall take care of your mother and sisters," Mr. Byrne went on.