Part 36 (1/2)

”No doubt a begging letter from some Leicester Square fellow,” he thought.

Presently, however, he opened the letter, and read the following message, which was also in Italian:

”The beautiful caged little bird sighs and weeps, because she thinks she is forgotten. A word of remembrance would be kind, if her friend is discreet and secret. Above all, no open strife. This from one who departs. Farewell!”

CHAPTER XXV.

A FRIEND'S ADVICE.

This must be said for George Brand, that while he was hard and unsympathetic in the presence of those whom he disliked or distrusted, in the society of those whom he did like and did trust he was docile and acquiescent as a child, easily led and easily persuaded. When he went from Lind's chamber, which had been to him full of an atmosphere of impatience and antagonism, to Lord Evelyn's study, and found his friend sitting reading there, his whole att.i.tude changed; and his first duty was to utter a series of remonstrances about the thousand pounds.

”You can't afford it, Evelyn. Why didn't you come to me? I would have given it to you a dozen times over rather than you should have paid it.”

”No doubt you would,” said the pale lad. ”That is why I did not come to you.”

”I wish you could get it back.”

”I would not take it back. It is little enough I can do; why not let me give such help as I can? If only those girls would begin to marry off, I might do more. But there is such a band of them that men are afraid to come near them.”

”I think it would be a pity to spoil the group,” said Brand. ”The country should subscribe to keep them as they are--the perfect picture of an English family. However, to return: you must promise me not to commit any of these extravagances again. If any appeal is made to you, come to me.”

But here a thought seemed to strike him;

”Ah,” he said, ”I have something to tell you. Lind is trying to get me to enter the same grade of officers.h.i.+p with himself. And do you know what the first qualification is?--that you give up every penny you possess in the world.”

”Well?”

”Well!”

The two friends stared at each other--the one calmly inquisitive, the other astounded.

”I thought you would have burst out laughing!” Brand exclaimed.

”Why?” said the other. ”You have already done more for them--for us--than that: why should you not do all in your power? Why should you not do all that you can, and while you can? Look!”

They were standing at the window. On the other side of the street far below them were some funeral carriages; at this precise moment the coffin was being carried across the pavement.

”That is the end of it. I say, why shouldn't you do all that you can, and while you can?”

”Do you want reasons? Well, one has occurred to me since I came into this room. A minute ago I said to you that you must not repeat that extravagance; and I said if you were appealed to again you could come to me. But what if I had already surrendered every penny in the world? I wish to retain in my own hands at least the power to help my friends.”

”That is only another form of selfishness,” said Lord Evelyn, laughing.

”I fear you are as yet of weak faith, Brand.”

He turned from the light, and went and sunk into the shadow of a great arm-chair.

”Now I know what you are going to do, Evelyn,” said his friend. ”You are going to talk me out of my common-sense; and I will not have it. I want to show you why it is impossible I should agree to this demand.”

”If you feel it to be impossible, it is impossible.”