were restored. And before that his father, my dear old friend, died very

suddenly, as you have heard me say, without leaving more than would bury

him. Don't talk any more of it. It makes me sad to think of it."

"But," persisted Dolly, "I could never understand why a famous man like

Sir Edmond Scudamore--a physician in large practice, and head doctor to

the King, as you have often told us--could possibly have died in that

sort of way, without leaving any money, or at least a quantity of

valuable furniture and jewels. And he had not a number of children,

papa, to spend all his money, as I do yours, whenever I get the chance;

though you are growing so dreadfully stingy now that I never can look

even decent."

"My dear, it is a very long sad story. Not about my stinginess, I

mean--though that is a sad story, in another sense, but will not move my

compassion. As to Sir Edmond, I can only tell you now that, while he was

a man of great scientific knowledge, he knew very little indeed of money

matters, and was not only far too generous, but what is a thousand

times worse, too trustful. Being of an honorable race himself, and an

honorable sample of it, he supposed that a man of good family must be

a gentleman; which is not always the case. He advanced large sums of

money, and signed bonds for a gentleman, or rather a man of that rank,

whose name does not concern you; and by that man he was vilely betrayed;

and I would rather not tell you the rest of it. Poor Blyth had to leave

Cambridge first, where he was sure to have done very well indeed, and at

his wish he was sent afloat, where he would have done even better; and

<<BackPagesTo menuNext>>