Dick pushed the egg and apples away, and cutting himself a hunch of
bread, went out of the room without speaking.
"Every one is very polite to-night," thought Dorothy. However, she sat
down, ate Dick's egg and helped herself to apples with plenty of sugar,
and felt a little comforted.
At eight o'clock she went up to bed, glad the tiresome, miserable day
was at an end. She trod very softly, but her mother heard her and called
her in.
Dorothy was glad, for she spoke in her natural voice and not at all as
if she were angry.
She was still dressed and lying on the bed, but her hand, which had
frightened Dick by being so cold, was now burning.
"I spoke hastily to you, Dollie," she said. "You didn't know how
important it was. I am going to tell you now, dear, for it may be a
lesson to you."
Dorothy stood awkwardly by the bed; she didn't like her mother to
apologise, and she didn't want the lecture which she imagined was
coming.
"Father," said Mrs. Graham, "is in a very bad way indeed. I can't
explain to you all about it because you would not understand, but a
friend he trusted very much has failed him, and another friend has been
spreading false rumours about his business. If he doesn't get enough
money to pay his creditors by Saturday he must go bankrupt. Miss
Addiscombe was a friend of his long ago. She has not been kind to him
lately, and she has always been rude to me.
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