"I
was sure that you were not a man who, to clear yourself from a little
money difficulty, would sacrifice the happiness of your mother and the
health of your father."
"Good gracious! what do you mean?"
"It is only right that you should know. That money represents the
commutation of your father's pension. He has reduced himself to
poverty, and intends to go to sea again to earn a living."
"To sea again! Impossible!"
"It is the truth. Charles Westmacott has told Ida. He was with him in
the City when he took his poor pension about from dealer to dealer
trying to sell it. He succeeded at last, and hence the money."
"He has sold his pension!" cried Harold, with his hands to his face.
"My dear old dad has sold his pension!" He rushed from the room, and
burst wildly into the presence of his parents once more. "I cannot take
it, father," he cried. "Better bankruptcy than that. Oh, if I had only
known your plan! We must have back the pension. Oh, mother, mother,
how could you think me capable of such selfishness? Give me the cheque,
dad, and I will see this man to-night, for I would sooner die like a dog
in the ditch than touch a penny of this money."
----
CHAPTER XVI.
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