de upon and carry out.

"It would do father an immense deal of good if something were to happen
that would wake him up a bit and get him to take an interest in things,"
he had said over and over again to Marion. "I cannot understand a man
having no opinion of his own about anything."

"I do not think you ought to speak in that sort of way, Wil, about
father."

"Oh, that is all nonsense, Marion. One cannot be blind about a person
even if he is one's own father. Of course he is very kind and very
indulgent, but it would be very much pleasanter if he were so because he
wished to give us pleasure, instead of because it is the easiest thing
to do. I should be downright pleased if sometimes when I ask him for
anything he would say positively I could not have it."

Now the something that Wilfrid had hoped might occur to rouse his father
had taken place, and had come in a form very unpleasantly violent and
unexpected. The papers a week before had brought the news of the failure
of the bank in which the greater portion of Mr. Renshaw's property was
invested, and a letter had the following morning been received from a
brother of Mrs. Renshaw, who was also a shareholder in the bank, saying
that the liabilities were very large, and that the shareholders would
undoubtedly be called upon to pay even their last penny to make up the
deficiency. This news had been confirmed, and there could be no doubt
absolute ruin had fallen upon them.

Mr. Renshaw had been completely overwhelmed by the tidings, and had
taken to his bed. Wilfrid's holidays had begun a few days before, and
his mother at once acquainted him with the misfortune that had befallen
them, and she now told him that the calls that would be made upon the
shares would more than swallow up the rest of their fortune.

"There will be absolutely nothing remaining, Wilfrid, except a thousand
pounds that I had at my marriage, and which were fortunately settled
upon me. This cannot be touched. Everything else will have to go."

"Well, it's a bad business, mother. I will go for a walk and think it
over. Marion, put on your hat and come out with me."

They had been for their walk--a long one, and he was now expressing the
result at which they had arrived.

"One thing is certain--something has got to be done."

"Yes," Mrs. Renshaw replied with a faint smile. "The question is, What
is it?"

"Well, mother, it is quite certain that we four cannot live on the
interest of a thousa