Chapter 12

FRIENDS IN NEED.

"Now, papa," said Clara that morning, wrinkling her
brows and putting her finger-tips together with the air
of an experienced person of business, "I want to have a
talk to you about money matters."

"Yes, my dear." He laid down his paper, and looked
a question.

"Kindly tell me again, papa, how much money I have in
my very own right. You have often told me before, but I
always forget figures."

"You have two hundred and fifty pounds a year of your
own, under your aunt's will.

"And Ida?"

"Ida has one hundred and fifty."

"Now, I think I can live very well on fifty pounds a
year, papa. I am not very extravagant, and I could
make my own dresses if I had a sewing-machine."

"Very likely, dear."

"In that case I have two hundred a year which I could
do without."

"If it were necessary."

"But it is necessary. Oh, do help me, like a good,
dear, kind papa, in this matter, for my whole heart is
set upon it. Harold is in sore need of money, and
through no fault of his own." With a woman's tact and
eloquence, she told the whole story. "Put yourself in my
place, papa. What is the money to me? I never think of
it from year's end to year's end. But now I know how
precious it is. I could not have thought that money
could be so valuable. See what I can do with it. It may
help to save him. I must have it by to-morrow. Oh, do,
do advise me as to what I should do, and how I should get
the money."

The Doctor smiled at her eagerness. "You are as
anxious to get rid of money as others are to gain it,"
said he. "In another case I might think it rash, but I
believe in your Harold, and I can see that he has had
villainous treatment. You will let me deal with the
matter."

"You, papa?"

"It can be done best between men. Your capital,
Clara, is some five thousand pounds, but it is out
on a mortgage, and you could not call it in."

"Oh, dear! oh, dear!"

"But we can still manage. I have as much at my bank.
I will advance it to the Denvers as coming from you, and
you can repay it to me, or the interest of it, when your
money becomes due."

"Oh, that is beautiful! How sweet and kind of you!"

"But there is one obstacle: I do not think that you
would ever induce Harold to take this money."

Clara's face fell. "Don't you think so, really?"

"I am sure that he would not."

"Then what are you to do? What horrid things money
matters are to arrange!"

"I shall see his father. We can manage it all
between us."

"Oh, do, do, papa! And you will do it soon?"

"There is no time like the present. I will go in at
once." He