Waife had taken the paper, glanced at its contents, dropped it in confusion, amaze. Those hundreds lent, swelled into all those thousands returned! And all methodically computedterselyarithmetically-down to fractions. So that every farthing seemed, and indeed was, his lawful due. And that sum invested in an annuity of L500 a yearincome which, to poor Gentleman Waife, seemed a prince's revenue!
"It is quite a business-like computation, I tell you, sir; all done by a lawyer. It is indeed," cried Lionel, dismayed at Waife's look and gesture. "Compound interest will run up to what seems a large amount at first; every child knows that. You can't deny Cocker and calculating tables, and that sort of thing. William Losely, you cannot leave an eternal load of disgrace on the head of Charles Haughton's son."
"Poor Charlie Haughton," murmured Waife. "And I was feeling bitter against his memorybitter against his son. How Heaven loves to teach us the injustice that dwells in anger! Butbutthis cannot be. I thank Mr. Darrell humblyI cannot take his money."
"It is not his moneyit is mine; he only advances it to me. It costs him really nothing, for he deducts the L500 a year from the allowance he makes me. And I don't want such an absurd allowance as I had before going out of the Guards into the lineI mean to be a soldier in good earnest. Too much pocket-money spoils a soldieronly gets one into scrapes. Alban Morley says the same. Darrell, too, says, 'Right; no gold could buy a luxurylike the payment of a father's debt!' You cannot grudge me that luxuryyou dare notwhy? because you are an honest Man."
"Softly, softly, softly," said Waife. "Let me look at you. Don't talk of money nowdon't let us think of money! What a look of your father! 'Tis he, 'tis he whom I see before me. Charlie's sweet bright playful eyesthat might have turned aside from the path of dutya sheriff's officer! Ah! and Charlie's happy laugh, too, at the slightest joke! But THIS is not Charlie'sit is all your own (touching, with gentle finger, Lionel's broad truthful brow). Poor Charlie, he was grievedyou are rightI remember."