“But Sir David might be merciful to you, father.  You’ve served him for along time.”

“What would he care for that?  I’ve had his money, and he’s not a man that can afford to lose much.  No, Nell, I look for no mercy from Sir David; those careless easy-going men are generally the hardest in such a business as this.  It’s a clear case of embezzlement, and nothing can save me unless I can raise money enough to satisfy him.”

“Couldn’t you borrow it of some one else besides Stephen Whitelaw?”

“Who else is there that would lend me two hundred pounds?  Ask yourself that, girl.  Why, I haven’t five pounds’ worth of security to offer.”

“And Mr. Whitelaw will only lend the money upon one condition?”

“No, curse him!” cried William Carley savagely.  “I’ve been at him all this afternoon, when you and that woman were out of the room, trying to get it out of him as a loan, without waiting for your promise; but he’s too cautious for that.  ’The day Ellen gives her consent, you shall have the money,’ he told me; ’I can’t say anything fairer than that or more liberal.’”

“He doesn’t suspect why you want it, does he, father?” Ellen asked with a painful sense of shame.

“Who can tell what he may suspect?  He’s as deep as Satan,” said the bailiff, with a temporary forgetfulness of his desire to exhibit this intended son-in-law of his in a favourable light.  “He knows that I want the money very badly; I couldn’t help his knowing that; and he must think it’s something out of the common that makes me want two hundred pounds.”

“I daresay he guesses the truth,” Ellen said, with a profound sigh.

It seemed to her the bitterest trial of all, that her father’s wrong-doing should be known to Stephen Whitelaw.  That hideous prospect of the dock and the gaol was far off as yet; she had not even begun to realise it; but she did fully realise the fact of her father’s shame, and the blow seemed to her a heavy one, heavier than she could bear.

For some minutes there was silence between father and daughter.  The girl sat with her face hidden in her hands; the bailiff smoked his pipe in sullen meditation.

“Is there no other way?” Ellen asked at last, in a plaintive despairing tone; “no other way, father?”

“None,” growled William Carley.  “You needn’t ask me that question again; there is no other way; you can get me out of my difficulties if you choose.  I should never have been so venturesome as I was, if I hadn’t made sure my daughter would soon be a rich woman.  You can save me if you like, or you can hold-off and let me go to prison.  There’s no good preaching about it or arguing about it; you’ve got the choice and you must make it.  Most young women in your place would think themselves uncommon lucky to have such a chance as you’ve got, instead of making a trouble about it, let alone being able to get their father out of a scrape.  But you’re your own mistress, and you must do as you please.”