‘You may say a family,’ said Cradell.  ’I’m sure that Amelia does the best she can; but we a desperately pushed sometimes—­desperately pushed.  I never had it so bad, Johnny, as I am now.’

‘So you said last time.’

’Did I?  I don’t remember it.  I didn’t think I was so bad then.  But, Johnny, if you can let me have one more fiver now I have made arrangements with Amelia how I’m to pay you off by thirty shillings a month—­as I get my salary.  Indeed I have.  Ask her else.’

‘I’ll be shot if I do.’

‘Don’t say that, Johnny.’

’It’s no good your Johnnying me, for I won’t be Johnnyed out of another shilling.  It comes too often, and there’s no reason why I should do it.  And what’s more, I can’t afford it.  I’ve people of my own to help.’

’But oh, Johnny, we all know how comfortable you are.  And I’m sure no one rejoiced as I did when the money was left to you.  If it had been myself I could hardly have thought more of it.  Upon my solemn word and honour if you’ll let me have it this time, it shall be the last.’

’Upon my word and honour then, I won’t.  There must be an end to everything.’

Although Mr Cradell would probably, if pressed, have admitted the truth of this last assertion, he did not seem to think that the end had as yet come to his friend’s benevolence.  It certainly had not come to his own importunity.  ‘Don’t say that, Johnny; pray don’t.’

‘But I do say it.’

’When I told Amelia yesterday evening that I didn’t like to got to you again, because of course a man has feelings, she told me to mention her name.  “I’m sure he’d do it for my sake,"’ she said.

‘I don’t believe she said anything of the kind.’

‘Upon my word she did.  You ask her.’

‘And if she did, she oughtn’t to have said it.’

’Oh, Johnny, don’t speak in that way of her.  She’s my wife, and you know what your own feelings were once.  But look here—­we are in that state at home at this moment, that I must get money somewhere before I go home.  I must, indeed.  If you’ll let me have three pounds this once, I’ll never ask you again.  I’ll give you a written promise if you like, and I’ll pledge myself to pay it back by thirty shillings a time out of the next two months’ salary.  I will, indeed.’  And then Mr Cradell began to cry.  But when Johnny at last took out his cheque-book and wrote a cheque for three pounds, Mr Cradell’s eyes glistened with joy.  ’Upon my word I am so much obliged to you!  You are the best fellow that ever lived.  And Amelia will say the same when she hears of it.’

’I don’t believe she’ll say anything of the kind, Cradell.  If I remember anything of her, she has a stouter heart than that.’  Cradell admitted that his wife had a stouter heart than himself, and then made his way back to his own part of the office.