note in his pocket. He doesn't know what it is to higgle over money as we do. Eden, you must let me do this! I've hated like the devil having this money. It's hung over me like a curse. If I could do something splendid with it—like helping you—making it possible for you to write your books—it would seem quite different." His eyes filled with tears.
"What put the idea of borrowing from Leigh into your head?"
"It just came. A sort of inspiration, I guess." He must not admit that George Fennel had made the suggestion.
"If I took the money," said Eden, frowning, "I should insist on paying it back with a higher interest than you would pay your friend."
"The hell you would!" said Finch, grandly. "You'll pay the money back just when you can—without any interest. I tell you, I've made up my mind to do something for each one of the family out of this money. Then I shan't feel such a—such a sort of pariah! It just happens that you're the first one I'm tackling, and it's got to be kept an absolute secret."
Eden's face broke into a smile that was almost tender. He caught Finch's hand and squeezed it. "My poor wretch," he said, "how quickly you're going to be rid of your money!"
