Lily sighed. What could she say or answer? The weakness of the man’s nature only came out the more clearly by his confession. What could she say? To reason with him was useless. To make him promise was useless.
“Charley,” she said at length, “if my forgiveness will do any good take it and welcome. But we cannot undo the past. You have lost your place and your character. As for the future——”
“You have forgiven me, Lily,” he said; “oh, I can face the future. I can get another place easily. I shall very soon retrieve my character. Why, all they can say is that I seemed to have taken too much. Nothing—that is nothing!”
“What will you do? Have you got any money?”
“No. I must go and look for another place. Until I get one I suppose there will be short commons. I deserve it, Lily. You shall not hear me grumble.”
She took out her purse. “I can spare two pounds,” she said. “Take the money, Charley. Nay—you must—you shall. You must not go about looking half starved.”
He hesitated and changed color, but he took the money.