tupid old man, but I am not so
stupid as not to know that had matters gone well with you, I should not
have met you to-night where I did. No, no, I cannot take all this
hard-earned money from you; but if you will lend me thirty
shillings----"

"Sh! sh! my dear sir, you are entirely mistaken. I am not rolling in
wealth, I admit; but at the same time I'm not in want of money, and
have a good ship. And then," he added in the most unblushing manner,
"I only went to the pawnshop to redeem these things here for a friend
of mine, who couldn't go for them himself. Now here's our supper, and
if you say another word about that wretched money you'll spoil my
appetite, which at present is a remarkably healthy one."

"Then God bless you, my dear boy. Rose will herself thank----"

"If you say a word about the matter to Miss Maynard in my presence I
_shall_ be put out," said Barry with unmistakable emphasis.

As they ate their supper, Barry, whose spirits seemed to become
brighter every minute, led the old man to talk, and he soon learnt of
the misfortune that had befallen him--an unfortunate copper mining
investment had stripped him of almost every penny in the world, and
from comparative affluence he had fallen into almost deepest poverty.
Too old to obtain employment in his former profession--that of an
architect--and too proud to ask for assistance from any of his friends
who might have helped him, he at last succeeded in securing a miserable
weekly wage as clerk in a shipping firm, where his knowledge of foreign
languages was of value. For some few months he and his daughter
managed to keep their heads above water; then came sickness and
consequent loss of his clerkship, and increasing hardships to be
endured in their poor lodgings in the poorest quarter of the city.
Rose Maynard, with aching heart, saw him rapidly sinking into
despondency as their funds became lower and lower with each rent day.
What could she do to help? Against her father's wish, she had written
to his sister in England, and told her of his position. The sister, a
wealthy maiden lady, had sent a 5 pound note and a long letter to her
brother full of indignation at his "criminal carelessness" and
suggesting that Rose was quite old enough to go out as a governess to
some "well-connected family, or, failing that, as companion," and
winding up with the intimation that the money enclosed had been sent
"out of sisterly regard, though destined for a far wo