r after. Well, when I saw what the
sums amounted to, I found this plan certainly would not answer, and that
I was getting into a mess; so I made up my mind to put an end to the
thing at once,--and sat down to write to my father, telling him I had
been playing billiards every day for some time past with a friend,--of
course I did not mention who,--and that, without being at all aware
of it, my losses had mounted up till I owed him one hundred pounds. I
mentioned at the same time that I had a pretty long bill at Smithson's;
and then went on to say that I saw the folly, if not worse than folly,
of what I had been doing; and that I applied ~74~~to him, as the best
friend I had in the world,--and I am sure he is too, Frank,--to save me
from the consequences of my own imprudence."

"I am very glad you did that; it was much the wisest thing," interrupted
I.

"As soon as I had written my letter," continued Oaklands, "I went
to Cumberland, and told him that I found I had been going on over
fast,--that I owned he was too good a player for me,--and that I
therefore did not mean to play any more--and would pay him as soon as I
received my father's answer."

"And what did he say to that?" inquired I.

"Why, he seemed surprised and a little annoyed, I fancied. He denied
being the best player, and begged I would not think of paying him yet,
saying that I had been unlucky of late, but that, if I would go on
boldly, luck was sure to change, and that I should most likely win it
all back again."

"And you?"

"Oh! I told him that was the true spirit of gambling; that I did not
choose to owe so much to any man as I owed him, and that pay him I
would. Well then, he said, that if I did not like to trouble my father
about such a trifle, and yet was determined to pay him, it could be very
easily managed. I asked how? He hummed and ha'd, and at last said that
Smithson would advance me the money in a minute--that I should only have
to sign a receipt for it, and need not pay him for years--not till I
was of age, and not then if I did not like--that no one would be any the
wiser--and he was going on with more in the same style, when I stopped
him, by answering very abruptly, that such an arrangement was not to my
taste, and that I was not yet reduced be borrowing money of my tailor."

"Quite right, I am so glad you told him that," interposed I; "what _did_
he say then?"

"Something about not intending to offend me, and its being a thing d