ser to me. You're
not well, my dear boy--let me put my arm round your neck. You're not
well, my own lad; but if you think----"

"I'm as bad as I can be, mother," said George, "but it isn't bodily
illness that ails me. I said I'd make a clean breast of it. It's the
only thing left for me to do."

A frightened look came into Mrs. Staunton's eyes for a moment, but then
they filled with satisfaction as they rested on the dark head close to
her own.

"Whatever you've done, you are my boy," she said.

"No, no; a thief isn't your boy," said George. "I tell you I'm a thief,"
he added fiercely, looking up at her with two bloodshot eyes. "You've
got to believe it. I'm a thief. I stole fifty pounds from Gering
yesterday--and I was bad before that. I won money at play--I've won and
lost, and I've lost and won. Once Lawson gave me two hundred and fifty
pounds to invest, and I stole it to pay a gambling debt, and Effie got
it back for me--she borrowed it for me. My father wouldn't have given
you to me if he had known that. I had it on my conscience when I was
kneeling by his deathbed, but I couldn't tell him then; and when he gave
you to me, I felt that I never could tell. Then we came to London, and I
began to deceive you. I told you a false story about that rise of
salary--I never had any rise; and I took your fifty pounds two days ago
out of the bank, and I stole money to pay it back again. That's your son
George, mother--your _true_ son in his _real_ colors. Now you know
everything."

George stepped a pace or two away from the bed as he spoke. He folded
his arms.

Mrs. Staunton was looking at him with a piteous, frightened expression
on her face. Suddenly she broke into a feeble and yet terrible laugh.

"My son George," she said. "That explains everything. My son
still--still my son!" She laughed again.

There came a knock at the outer door.

"Don't go, George!" said his mother.

"George, you're wanted," said Agnes. "Effie is here, and Mr.
Gering--they want to see you. Come at once."

"Mr. Gering!" exclaimed the mother. "He was the man you took the money
from. He's coming to--punish you, to--George, you're not to go. Stay
here with me. I'll hide you. You're not to go, George--I won't let you,
I won't let you!"

"Dear mother! dear, dearest mother! you must let me--I must take the
punishment. I've deserved it and I'm determined to go through with it.
Just say a wonderful thing to me before I go, and I'll be strong e