VERY HARD CASH.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND".
             CHAPTER XXX.

"WE laid the poor proud creature on the sofa,
and bathed his face with eau de Cologne. He
spoke directly, and said that was nice, and 'My
head! my head!' And I don't think he was ever
quite insensible, but he did not know what was
going on, for presently he opened his eyes wide,
and stared at us so, and then closed them with
oh such a sigh; it swelled my heart almost to
bursting. And to think I could say nothing:
but mamma soothed him and insisted on his
keeping quiet; for he wanted to run away from
us. She was never so good to him before: she
said, 'My dear child, you have my pity and my
esteem; alas! that at your age you should be
tried like this. How few in this sorry world
would have acted like you: I should have sided
with my own flesh and blood, for one.'

'What, right or wrong?' he asked.

'Yes,' said she, 'right or wrong.' Then she
turned to me: 'Julia, shall all the generosity be
on his side?'

I kissed her and clung to her, but dared not
speak; but I was mad enough to hope, I scarcely
know what, till she said in the same kind sorrowful
voice, 'I agree with you; you can never be
my son; nor Julia's husband. But as for that
money, it revolts me to proceed to extremes
against one, who after all is your father, my poor,
poor, chivalrous boy.' But she would decide
nothing without Edward; he had taken his
father's place in this house. So then I gave all
up, for Edward is made of iron. Alfred was
clearer sighted than I, and never had a hope: he
put his arm round mamma and kissed her, and
she kissed him: and he kissed my hand, and crept
away, and I heard his step on the stair, and on
the road ever so far, and life seemed ended for
me when I heard it no more.

Edward has come home. Mamma told him
all: he listened gravely: I hung upon his lips;
and at last the oracle spoke; and said, 'This is
a nice muddle.'

More we could not get from him; he must
sleep on it. O, suspense! you torture! He
had seen a place he thinks will suit us: it is a
bad omen his saying that so soon after. As I
went to bed I could not help whispering, 'If he
and I are parted, so will you and Jane.' The
cruel boy answered me out loud, 'Thank you,
little girl: that is a temptation; and you have
put me on my guard.'

Oh, how hard it is to understand a man! they
are so impracticable with their justice and things.
I came away with my cheeks burning, and my
heart like a stone; to bed, but not to sleep. My
poor, poor, unhappy, noble Alfred!"

"Dec. 27th. Mamma and Edward have
discussed it: they say nothing to me. Can they
have written to him? I go about my duties like
a ghost; and pray for submission to the Divine
will."

"Dec. 28th. To-day as I was reading by main
force to Mrs Eagleton's sick girl, came Sarah all
in a hurry with, I was wanted, Miss. But I
would finish my chapter, and O how hard the
Devil tried to make me gabble it; so I clenched
my teeth at him, and read it as if I was spelling
it; and then didn't I fly?

He was there; and they all sat waiting for me.
I was hot and cold all at the same time, and he
rose and bowed to me, and I curtseyed to him,
and sat down and took my work, and didn't know
one bit what I was doing.

And our new oracle, Edward, laid down the
the law like anything. 'Look here, Hardie,'
said he, 'if anybody but you had told us about
this fourteen thousand pounds, I should have
set the police on your governor before now. But
it seems to me a shabby thing to attack a father
on the son's information, especially when it's out
of love for one of us he has denounced his own
flesh and blood.'

'No, no,' said Alfred, eagerly, 'out of love of
justice.'

'Ah, you think so, my fine fellow, but you
would not have done it for a stranger,' said
Edward. Then he went on: 'Of all blunders,
the worst is to fall between two stools: look
here, mamma; we decide, for the son's sake, not
to attack the father: after that it would be very
inconsistent to turn the cold shoulder to the son.
Another thing, who suffers most by this fraud?
why the man that marries Julia.' Alfred burst
out impetuously, 'Oh, prove that to me, and let
me be that sufferer.' Edward turned calmly to