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〃Dear old dad！〃 Harold squeezed his gnarled hand。 〃And you；
mother！ You have lifted the trouble from my heart。 I feel another man。
You have saved my honor； my good name； everything。 I cannot owe you
more； for I owe you everything already。〃
So while the autumn sunset shone ruddily through the broad window
these three sat together hand in hand； with hearts which were too full to
speak。 Suddenly the soft thudding of tennis balls was heard； and Mrs。
Westmacott bounded into view upon the lawn with brandished racket and
short skirts fluttering in the breeze。 The sight came as a relief to their
strained nerves； and they burst all three into a hearty fit of laughter。
〃She is playing with her nephew；〃 said Harold at last。 〃The Walkers
have not come out yet。 I think that it would be well if you were to give
me that cheque； mother； and I were to return it in person。〃
〃Certainly； Harold。 I think it would be very nice。
He went in through the garden。 Clara and the Doctor were sitting
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together in the dining…room。 She sprang to her feet at the sight of him。
〃Oh； Harold； I have been waiting for you so impatiently；〃 she cried； 〃I
saw you pass the front windows half an hour ago。 I would have come in
if I dared。 Do tell us what has happened。〃
〃I have come in to thank you both。 How can I repay you for your
kindness？ Here is your cheque； Doctor。 I have not needed it。 I find
that I can lay my hands on enough to pay my creditors。〃
〃Thank God！〃 said Clara fervently。
〃The sum is less than I thought； and our resources considerably more。
We have been able to do it with ease。〃
〃With ease！〃 The Doctor's brow clouded and his manner grew cold。
〃I think； Harold； that you would do better to take this money of mine； than
to use that which seems to you to be gained with ease。〃
〃Thank you； sir。 If I borrowed from any one it would be from you。
But my father has this very sum； five thousand pounds； and； as I tell him； I
owe him so much that I have no compunction about owing him more。〃
〃No compunction！ Surely there are some sacrifices which a son
should not allow his parents to make。〃
〃Sacrifices！ What do you mean？〃
〃Is it possible that you do not know how this money has been
obtained？〃
〃I give you my word； Doctor Walker； that I have no idea。 I asked my
father； but he refused to tell me。〃
〃I thought not；〃 said the Doctor； the gloom clearing from his brow。 〃I
was sure that you were not a man who； to clear yourself from a little
money difficulty； would sacrifice the happiness of your mother and the
health of your father。〃
〃Good gracious！ what do you mean？〃
〃It is only right that you should know。 That money represents the
commutation of your father's pension。 He has reduced himself to poverty；
and intends to go to sea again to earn a living。〃
〃To sea again！ Impossible！〃
〃It is the truth。 Charles Westmacott has told Ida。 He was with him
in the City when he took his poor pension about from dealer to dealer
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trying to sell it。 He succeeded at last； and hence the money。〃
〃He has sold his pension！〃 cried Harold； with his hands to his face。
〃My dear old dad has sold his pension！〃 He rushed from the room； and
burst wildly into the presence of his parents once more。 〃I cannot take it；
father；〃 he cried。 〃Better bankruptcy than that。 Oh； if I had only known
your plan！ We must have back the pension。 Oh； mother； mother； how
could you think me capable of such selfishness？ Give me the cheque；
dad； and I will see this man to…night； for I would sooner die like a dog in
the ditch than touch a penny of this money。〃
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CHAPTER XVI。
A MIDNIGHT VISITOR。
Now all this time； while the tragi…comedy of life was being played in
these three suburban villas； while on a commonplace stage love and humor
and fears and lights and shadows were so swiftly succeeding each other；
and while these three families； drifted together by fate； were shaping each
other's destinies and working out in their own fashion the strange； intricate
ends of human life； there were human eyes which watched over every
stage of the performance； and which were keenly critical of every actor on
it。 Across the road beyond the green palings and the close…cropped lawn；
behind the curtains of their creeper…framed windows； sat the two old ladies；
Miss Bertha and Miss Monica Williams； looking out as from a private box
at all that was being enacted before them。 The growing friendship of the
three families； the engagement of Harold Denver with Clara Walker； the
engagement of Charles Westmacott with her sister； the dangerous
fascination which the widow exercised over the Doctor； the preposterous
behavior of the Walker girls and the unhappiness which they had caused
their father； not one of these incidents escaped the notice of the two
maiden ladies。 Bertha the younger had a smile or a sigh for the lovers；
Monica the elder a frown or a shrug for the elders。 Every night they
talked over what they had seen； and their own dull； uneventful life took a
warmth and a coloring from their neighbors as a blank wall reflects a
beacon fire。
And now it was destined that they should experience the one keen
sensation of their later years； the one memorable incident from which all
future incidents should be dated。
It was on the very night which succeeded the events which have just
been narrated； when suddenly into Monica William's head； as she tossed
upon her sleepless bed； there shot a thought which made her sit up with a
thrill and a gasp。
〃Bertha；〃 said she； plucking at the shoulder of her sister； 〃I have left
the front window open。〃
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〃No； Monica； surely not。〃 Bertha sat up also； and thrilled in
sympathy。
〃I am sure of it。 You remember I had forgotten to water the pots； and
then I opened the window； and Jane called me about the jam； and I have
never been in the room since。〃
〃Good gracious； Monica； it is a mercy that we have not been murdered
in our beds。 There was a house broken into at Forest Hill last week。
Shall we go down and shut it？〃
〃I dare not go down alone； dear； but if you will come with me。 Put
on your slippers and dressing…gown。 We do not need a candle。 Now；
Bertha； we will go down together。〃
Two little white patches moved vaguely through the darkness； the
stairs creaked； the door whined； and they were at the front room window。
Monica closed it gently down； and fastened the snib。
〃What a beautiful moon！〃 said she； looking out。 〃We can see as
clearly as if it were day。 How peaceful and quiet the three houses are
over yonder！ It seems quite sad to see that ‘To Let' card upon number
one。 I wonder how number two will like their going。 For my part I
could better spare that dreadful woman at number three with her short
skirts and her snake。 But； oh； Bertha； look！ look！！ look！！！〃 Her voice
had fallen suddenly to a quivering whisper and she was pointing to the
Westmacotts' house。 Her sister gave a gasp of horror； and stood with a
clutch at Monica's arm； staring in the same direction。
There was a light in the front room； a slight； wavering light such as
would be given by a small candle or taper。 The blind was down； but the
light shone di