'He will not take your money;' and then he added 'Poor beggar!' under his breath.
'You will stand by me, Mike?'
'Most certainly I will; but I mean to befriend Blake, too, as far as he will let me.'
'I should not think he would refuse your sympathy; a man needs someone at such a time. But when I spoke I was thinking of my girl. You have great influence with her, Michael; sometimes I think no brother's influence could be stronger. How would it be if she were to hear the news first from you?'
Then Michael recoiled as though someone had struck him in the face.
'Impossible! I could not tell her. I would rather be shot!' he returned vehemently.
'Well, it is not a pleasant business, and I suppose I must do it myself; only the idea crossed my mind that perhaps it might come better from you. I shall not be able to refrain from indignation; I am apt to get a little warm sometimes.'
But Michael firmly negatived this notion.
'It will go hard with her, whoever tells it,' he said decidedly. 'Nothing can soften such a blow, and it is far better for her to hear it from her father. You see,' he continued rather sadly, 'it will be a fair division, for I have to break it to poor Blake; and I shall have tough work with him, for he worships the ground she walks on.'
'Ay, poor fellow! I know he does. What a cruel affair it is, Mike! That woman's deceit will go far to spoil two lives.'