ou. Try not to agitate yourself, try to
listen to me quietly. Remember that a brave woman can always control her
nerves."

Effie sat down when Lawson bade her. Something in his quiet but resolute
voice soothed her impatience; she looked up at him as he stood by the
mantelpiece, resting one arm on it.

"The facts are these," he began at once; "Staunton has been going wrong
for a long time----"

"I know it--I know it well," interrupted Effie.

"Yes, I feared that you knew it. Poor fellow, soon after his arrival in
London he got with bad companions. He has naturally extravagant
tastes--they introduced him to some of those gambling saloons. Given a
weak nature, the love of money for the pleasure it can give, a will
weakened with self-indulgence, and the result is easy to forecast.
George has been going from bad to worse for months past. He has
sometimes won considerable sums of money, and these successes have
excited him to try again--with this devil's luck, as the saying is. Of
late, however, that luck has turned against him, and the events which
took place to-day are only the natural consequences."

Effie rose slowly from her seat.

"Go on," she said, coming up to Lawson. "What took place to-day? Go on,
please,--I am quiet,--I am prepared for anything."

Lawson gave her a look of admiration.

"You are a brave girl," he said briefly. "The world would be a better
place if there were more like you in it. Well, what took place is this.
Staunton won heavily at cards the night before last. Not content with
his gains, however, he persevered until the luck turned against him.
Before he left the gambling saloon he had lost all his gains, and was in
debt fifty pounds. To meet that debt he drew your mother's money from
the bank yesterday morning."

"I know," said Effie, with white lips--"mother told me. She sent Agnes
to the bank to cash a small check. Agnes was told that George's account
was overdrawn. Yes, I know that. Is there more behind? Surely that must
be the worst."

"Alas! I wish it were. This morning the poor fellow, while engaged in
his duties at Gering's office, met with the temptation for which he was
so ripe. It was a horrible one. He knew that your mother had not a
penny. His feeling for her I need not enter upon. He found himself in
the room with an open till, and took fifty pounds out of it. Soon
afterwards, he made an excuse to leave the office. He wandered about all
day in an indescribable state of mi