The other looked at him in blank astonishment. This was the first admission for two years made by Bramwell that anything could be done for him.
"What is it?"
He was almost afraid to speak lest he should make the other draw back. He would have done anything on earth for Frank--anything on earth except forgive John Ainsworth, otherwise William Goddard, otherwise William Crawford.
The aliases of Mrs. Crawford's husband were known to neither of these men. These two aliases were unknown as aliases to any one in the world.
"You need not be afraid. It is not anything very dreadful or very difficult."
"If it were impossible and infamous, I'd do it for you, Frank."
"Fortunately it is neither. To-day that little boy came to play with Frank again, and his aunt asked me to go over to-night and chat for an hour with her brother. In a moment of thoughtlessness and confusion I promised to go. Of course I can't, and I want you to walk round and apologise, and explain matters to the aunt and father of Freddie. You see, I would not like to seem rude or inconsiderate. I don't know what I should do if they withdrew their leave from the coming over of their boy."
"But why won't you go?" asked Philip eagerly. "It would do you all the good in the world."
"My dear Philip, I am astonished at you. Out of this place I have not gone into a house for two years."
"So much the more reason why you should go. I suppose you do not intend living the same life now as during those two years?"