"Mr. Nugent," said Tom Nixon, "I have come prepared to pay you the interest on the amount of my defalcation²."

 

"Give it to Gerald. I don't want it."

 

"I have already given Gerald ten thousand dollars, and when I die he will have all that I leave behind me."

 

Mr. Nugent looked much pleased. He grasped the hand of his old debtor³ cordially, and said: "I am pleased to hear it. Then you found Gerald of assistance to you?"

 

"But for him I should not have been living to-day. He has done everything for me."

 

"Probably you wondered at my choice of a messenger at first?"

 

"Yes. It seemed strange to me that you should select a young boy, but I soon found that he had the sense and discretion⁴ of a man."

 

"Have you seen your stepmother yet, Gerald?" asked Mr. Nugent.

 

"No; but I met Abel on the street."

 

"What did he have to say?"

 

"He asked me if I had any money."

 

"What did you reply?"

 

"'A little.' Then he said, 'If you expect to live on ma you will find yourself much mistaken. You will have to earn your own living.' I told him I shouldn't trouble Mrs. Lane."

 

"But, perhaps, you may," said Mr. Nugent.

 

Gerald looked an inquiry⁵.

 

Mr. Nugent explained:

 

"I have in my hands a later will than the one under which Mrs. Lane inherits. It was placed in my hands by your father, with directions not to produce it if Mrs. Lane treated you fairly. Otherwise, I was to make it known. By this will you are left half the property. That will only amount to ten thousand dollars, as Mrs. Lane has been compelled to surrender thirty thousand dollars to John Graves. She will be left comparatively poor."

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