ot about it all his usual
pleasantness.

"You have probably checked it, and can say whether or no it be
correct," said Mr. Bertram senior, looking at the paper in his hand.

"Well, I can't say that I have exactly; but I don't in the least
doubt the figures, not in the least; Mr. Pritchett is always correct,
I know."

"Yes, Mr. Pritchett is generally correct. And may I ask, Sir Lionel,
what you intend to do in the matter?"

It was necessary now that Sir Lionel should summon up his best
courage. He reminded himself that after all his brother was but a
feeble old man--impotent in all but money; and as it seemed now clear
that no further pecuniary aid was to be expected, why need he fear
him on this account? Had it been possible for him to get away without
further talk, he would have done so; but this was not possible, so he
determined to put a good face on it.

"I suppose you are joking now, George," said he.

I wish I could describe the tone of voice in which the word joking
was repeated by the elder Mr. Bertram. It made the military knight
jump in his chair, and confess to himself that the word impotent
could not be safely applied to his ancient relative.

"Well, I dare say it is a joke," the old man went on to say. "If I
expect to be paid what I have expended in saving George from being
turned loose upon the world without education, I suppose it is a
joke. Ha! ha! ha! I never thought of laughing at it before, but now I
will. I always heard that you were a joker, Sir Lionel. Ha! ha! ha! I
dare say you have laughed at it often enough yourself, eh?"

"What I mean is this, when you took upon yourself George's education
and maintenance, you could hardly have intended to have it paid back
again by such a poor devil as I am."

"Oh, I couldn't, couldn't I?"

"At any rate, I don't suppose you did count on having your money
back."

"Well, I must admit this, I did not feel very sure of it; I did think
there might be a doubt. But what could I do? I could not let poor
Wilkinson ruin himself because you would not pay your debts."

"I am sorry that you take it up in such a manner," said the colonel,
assuming a tone of injured innocence. "I came here because I heard
that you were ill--"

"Thought I was dying, eh?"

"I did not exactly think that you were dying, George; but I knew that
you were very ill, and old feelings came back on me. The feelings
of our early youth, George; and I could not be happy without seeing