'Well,' resumed Alexander, 'I'll call round at their place
before I come back, and pay your shot for you. In that way,
before breakfast-time, you'll be as good as new.'
John murmured inarticulate thanks. To see his brother thus
energetic in his service moved him beyond expression; if he
could not utter what he felt, he showed it legibly in his
face; and Alexander read it there, and liked it the better in
that dumb delivery.
'But there's one thing,' said the latter, 'cablegrams are
dear; and I dare say you remember enough of the governor to
guess the state of my finances.'
'The trouble is,' said John, 'that all my stamps are in that
beastly house.'
'All your what?' asked Alexander.
'Stamps - money,' explained John. 'It's an American
expression; I'm afraid I contracted one or two.'
'I have some,' said Flora. 'I have a pound note upstairs.'
'My dear Flora,' returned Alexander, 'a pound note won't see
us very far; and besides, this is my father's business, and I
shall be very much surprised if it isn't my father who pays
for it.'
'I would not apply to him yet; I do not think that can be
wise,' objected Flora.
'You have a very imperfect idea of my resources, and not at
all of my effrontery,' replied Alexander. 'Please observe.'
He put John from his way, chose a stout knife among the
supper things, and with surprising quickness broke into his
father's drawer.
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