was their fault. The
stock had reached a satisfactory premium, which was all that he had
promised; he could not be expected to guarantee its remaining at the
high level.

During the next three or four weeks his broker sold out his shares in
small blocks, and when the quantity had been largely reduced, Herbert
decided that he would dispose of those he had purchased on George's
account. Though there were signs of a diminishing interest in such
stock, values had scarcely begun to fall, and having made his position
secure, he did not wish his cousin to incur a loss. Accordingly he
sent instructions to sell another lot of shares.

He was very busy the next day when a telegram was brought him, but he
sat still for some minutes considering it. The market, it stated, had
suddenly fallen flat, and as prices were giving way sharply, further
orders were requested. The change Herbert had foreseen had come a
little sooner than he had expected. He still held some shares, which
he had thought of keeping, because it might, after all, prove judicious
to retain a degree of control in the company, and having sold the rest
at a good profit, a moderate fall in their value would be of less
consequence. The drop, however, was marked, and he decided to further
reduce the quantity standing in his name, instead of realizing those
belonging to his cousin. George must take his chance; and the market
might rally. As a result of these reflections he wired his broker to
sell, and in a few hours received an answer.

"_Sale effected within limit given, market since broken badly, expect
slump_."

Herbert saw that he had acted with prudence, though it was evident that
his cousin had incurred a serious loss. He was sorry for this, but it
could not be helped.

A few days later he was sitting beside the fire at home after his
evening meal when Sylvia entered the room in his wife's absence. She
stood near the hearth, examining some embroidery in her hand, but she
looked up presently, and it became evident that she had been reading
the papers.

"There seems to be a sharp fall in rubber shares," she said. "Will it
affect you?"

"No," replied Herbert, "not seriously."

"I suppose that means you must have anticipated the fall and sold
out--unloaded, I think you call it--in time?"

Herbert did not wish to discuss the matter. He had already had one or
two trying interviews with his business colleagues, and the opinions
they had expre