“Very well, sir,” said Frank haughtily, and rising; “I shall transfer my account to some other bank, which will deal more liberally and courteously with me;” saying which, he hurried into the street in a state of fierce excitement. When, however, he had had time to cool down a little, he began to feel the awkwardness of his position. He was quite sure that his father would not increase his allowance, and an overdrawn account was not a thing so easy to transfer. Besides which, he began to be aware that his present habits were getting talked about in the city. But money he must have. To whom could he apply? There was but one person to whom he could bring himself to speak on the subject, and that was Hubert. He had seen very little of him, however, of late, for the company and pursuits he had taken to were not such as would find any countenance from young Oliphant. Something, however, must be done. So he called at the office in King William Street, and had a private interview with his friend.
“Money,” said Hubert, when he had heard of Frank’s necessities, “is not a thing I have much at command at present.”
“But you can procure me the loan of a hundred pounds, I daresay?” asked the other; “my next half-yearly payment will be made in two months, and then I shall be able to repay the money, with the interest.”
“You want a hundred pounds now, as I understand,” said his friend, “and you have already overdrawn your account fifty pounds; when your money is paid in it will just cover this hundred and fifty pounds, without any interest. How do you mean to manage for the interest and your next half-year’s expenses?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” replied Frank testily; “what’s the use of bothering a fellow with calculations like that? Of course the tradespeople must trust me, and it’ll be all right by the time another half-year’s payment comes in.”
“Well, if you’ve paid your tradesmen up to now,” rejoined Hubert, “of course they may be willing to wait. Still, excuse my saying, dear Frank, that it’s not a very healthy thing this forestalling, and I don’t see how you’re to pay the interest when you get your next payment.”
“What a fuss about the interest!” cried the other. “The fellow that lends it must clap on so much more for waiting a little longer, that’s all. And as for the tradesmen, they must be content to be paid by degrees. They’ll take precious good care not to be losers in the end, I’ll warrant them.”
“Dear Frank,” said Hubert kindly, but very gravely, and laying his hand affectionately on the other’s shoulder, “you must bear with me if I speak a little plainly to you—you must bear with me, indeed you must. You know that you came out here hoping to redeem the past, and to return home again a new character. You know what lies at the end of such a hope fulfilled. Are you really trying to live the life you purposed to live? There are very ugly rumours abroad. You seem to have nearly forsaken old friends; and the new ones, if report says true, are such as will only lead you to ruin. Oh, dear Frank, if you would only see things in the right light—if you would only see your own weakness, and seek strength in prayer in your Saviour’s name—oh, surely you would break off at once from your present ways and companions, and there might be hope—oh yes, hope even yet.”
Frank did not speak for some time. At last he said, in a stern, husky voice,—
“Can you—or can you not—borrow the money for me?”