He stopped and frowned and puckered his lips as if reluctant to

continue. Ida looked at him steadily with her deep grey eyes.

"Go on." she said. "Do not be afraid to tell me the truth. I can bear

it. I would rather know the worst, know what I have to face. For some

time past I have feared my father was in trouble. Do you think I am

afraid? Please tell me all."

"In a word, then, my dear," said the old lawyer, with a sigh, "I am

afraid your father has been speculating, and, like ninety-nine out of a

hundred that do so, has been losing. It is like playing against the

bank at Monte Carlo; one man may break it, but the advantage is on the

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bank's side, and for the one who wins thousands lose. Can you tell me

if there are any grounds for my apprehension?"

Ida was silent for a moment as she recalled her father's manner of

late, his habit of shutting himself up in the library, of keeping his

letters from her, of secreting papers, and, above all, the furtive

glances which she had now and again seen him cast at her.

"I am afraid that it is only too true," she said. "My poor father! What

is to be done, Mr. Wordley? Can I do anything?"

The old man shook his head. He knew too well that once a man has really

taken to gambling, whether it be on the Stock Exchange, or at a green

table, or on the turf, there is very little hope of saving him.

"I fear you can do nothing," he replied, sadly. "A Heron never yet

brooked interference even by his nearest and dearest. No, you must say

nothing about it. Even I must be careful how I approach him; for this

morning he was testy and irritable and resented the few questions I

ventured to put to him. Don't make yourself unhappy about it. I will

try and arrange about the mortgage, and I will come over again as soon

as possible and try and persuade your father to confide in me as he

used to do. Now, come, remember! You are not to worry yourself, my

dear, but to leave it entirely to me. Things are rarely as bad as they

seem, and there is always a gleam of light in the darkest sky. Perhaps,

some day, we shall see Heron Hall and the good old family in all its

old glory; and when that day comes, my little girl with the star eyes

will queen it in the dale like one of the Heron ladies of the past."




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