The Weird Sisters, Volume I (of 3)

anker mechanically, a

then crossed the room hastily, and, putting her ha

mply, "Mother?" in a tone of badinage, as if paying her

ame in?" she asked with reproachful earnestness, looking up fixedly

of her black bonnet with his thumb and finger, returning her steady gaze with a stea

do you mean, Henry; you ought not

ands the man's purse, the man produces that revolver, and the thief says, "Pass on, friend." If a thief who has stolen money meets the man he stole it from, or a policeman, and can pull out a revolver, then he can say to the man or the policeman, "Le

dropped his head roguishly over his shoulder, and laughed a soft laugh, which seemed

the light of a mental conflict between anger and tears. The conflict ended in a few moments. S

y her side, and put his powerful arm round her emaciated shoulders, and

lowing out a fancy, a conceit. It was a foolish vanity that made me seem to play with your questions. You know, my own mother, I would not

crying out, and throwing her arms round her son, and weeping on his breast. But by a superhuman effort, an effort no created being could make but a mother for the salvation of a child, she held her passionate lo

e sharp eyes, and then throwing down the eye

that run, and you were thinking of getting away from the run and the closing of the doors with--that.

ll prove to you-that we are able to meet any run that may come upon us in conseque

Never while I live, I hope, shall you fall so pitifully low as to need another man's word to help your word to my belief." She laid hold of

he least inconvenience, the position of the Bank ought to be very materially improved when all becomes quiet again." He rose an

her composure. "Then what do you mean by 'setting ou

ad just received from Mrs. Grant across the table to

es and read the note deliberately. When

ck was towards her, and she could not see his fac

re wanted for at the Ca

N

a tone of anxiety and surprise. He had spoken as

for at the Castle?" Still he spoke as if half suffocated. Still he kept his

tors to-day, and they have little or no hope of Sir Alexander getting better. He has not yet made his will, and they

ound suddenly, threw up both his hands, and bur

ed at him aghast. "Henry!" she cried, in

said between his laughter; "I t

ew seconds. "You thought it was something serious

thing very

death, and has not yet made his will. Sure

to hear of anything else but my own affairs relieved me, and I could not help laughing. I did not, indeed, laugh at the thought of poor Sir Alexander being ill; I pity him with all my heart. But what you said touched some spring of

nry; you frighten me to death

am too abrupt. More of my abruptness: I ca

w seconds h

er and to reflect. "Every day," she thought, "he be

ht something

use he was going on a journey, and now he's gone off and left it beh

Bank-door he hailed the nearest fly, jum

n to a whip-lash you don't do it under h

h the town he waved his hand or doffed his hat at every twenty yards. There was cordiality in every look that gr

to the conclusion Sir Alexander Midharst had discovered he, Grey, had "borrowed" every penny of the immense s

t, and all the depositors' money was gone. Pressure after pressure had come upon him after that, a

ad glided into the thing gradually, beginning by borrowing twenty thousand pounds, which he caused to be lodged to his own credit at his London agents in the name of Barrington, Ware, an

r bills came to maturity, and before there was any general uneasiness in the commerc

London as it was known, the accommodation market had got very much straitened, and the Daneford Bank's London agents not only hinted they did not care to make any additional advances,

that he had dipped into the Midharst fund, why not go deeper? He could make something out of this transaction; and it was for the good of Sir Alexande

rs in the financial world, and the possibility of a run on the Bank. At all risks the Bank must stand; for on its stabi

ls, and bought the revolver. As he put the matter to himself in his figurative way, the situation now was a race between gold and lead. Would

w figures to please and flatter his sight. It might be that if he could hold on and get-say, half the business of the Daneford branch of the St. George's Bank, the chance of the gold overtaking the lead would

r down for the evening. This note did not come from Sir Alexander, but from Miss Midharst's companion. At the moment when his mother entered a straw might ha

y restrain his exultation within the bounds of mere facial joy. He

e whole pack seemed to have been put before him face up, with li

by the aid of its good substantial name the Daneford would get strong while others were crumbling, a

and if neither of these chances turned up

tter was that the old man should die in less than twelve months, and leave it incumbent on

and while no one in Daneford would dream of suspecting Grey, or ask details of the account, much less verification of the items, the

e a will, b

overtaking the lead. It was better than recovering from a long illness; it was coming back, to life and gr

lighted, told the driver of the fly to wai

Castle he was shown into the

g for him. After some time he gathered from her how

er would se

tly shocked at the change which had taken place in the latter since

e malady which afflicted him chronically, on the old man's face. Now the cheeks were puf

e of the sufferer when he spoke was tremulous, querulous, making a p

ion of sorrow for his indisposition, the old

e the sunlight. Thank you, Grey. Sit down now, where I can see you. It's a comfort to look at a man like you after those false prophets and hoarse ravens. The

Shaw about the matter?"

aw about it. I hate lawyers,

ith a shy smile, "I should not be with

tion of the brows and a glance of suspicion

asking for the management of intestate estates." He rai

ctors, with their fears and their jargo

already his mind was becoming clouded or torpid? After a moment's observa

o will, the law-costs often consume the whole estate, and alway

an reflec

e your own wi

gation. As I go home the ferry-boat may overturn and I may be drowned, the horse may run away and I may be killed. Making a will has with me no connection with good or bad he

as a lo

re

ir Alex

t this fortune toget

f depre

years now taking

interview to end in a storm of intolerable ruin? Had this old man been leading up wit

go still

what

utors, the chief-no, as the sole

give it up. I cannot, I will not, be trifled with." His face shrivelled up, and h

killed, let me die with the knowledge that the fortune of my child will

wil

o come. Go to him at once