'No, I can't. It is not a trifle. I must tell my father. He'll
find the money.'
'There is no doubt about that.'
'He will. But I feel at present that I would rather change places
with the poorest gentleman I know than have to tell him. I have
done with races, Lupton.'
'If so, this will have been a happy day for you. A man in your
position can hardly make money by it, but he may lose so much! If
a man really likes the amusement,--as I do,--and risks no more that
what he has in his pocket, that may be very well.'
'At any rate I have done with it.'
Nevertheless he went to see the race run, and everybody seemed to
be touched with pity for him. He carried himself well, saying as
little as he could of his own horse, and taking, or affecting to
take, great interest in the race. After the race he managed to see
all those to whom he has lost heavy stakes,--having to own to
himself as he did so that not one of them was a gentleman to whom
who should like to give his hand. To them he explained that his
father was abroad,--that probably his liabilities could not be
settled till after his father's return.
Pages:
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607