it would save him the unpleasantness of giving a personal explanation; moreover, George believed that he had left home with that purpose.  Then he made a few rough calculations, which seemed to prove that enough remained to buy and stock a farm in western Canada.  This was something, though it did not strike him as a matter of much consequence, and he listlessly smoked out his cigar.  Then he rose and rejoined Mrs. Lansing.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll go over to Wests’ to-morrow,” he said.  “They pressed me to spend some time with them, and there are arrangements to be made on which they want my opinion.  Edgar is taking up land in Canada.”

Mrs. Lansing looked troubled.

“Was there anything disturbing in the paper Herbert gave me for you?  He doesn’t tell me much about his business, but I gathered that he was vexed about some shares he bought on your account.  I should be sorry if they have gone down.”

“You would hardly understand; the thing’s a little complicated,” George said with reassuring gentleness.  “I’m afraid I have lost some money; but, after all, it isn’t my worst misfortune.  I’ll have a talk with Herbert as soon as he comes home.”

He left Brantholme the next morning and was received by Ethel when he arrived at Wests’.

“We have been expecting you,” she said cordially.

“Then you know?”

“Yes.  I’m very sorry; but I suppose it will hardly bear talking about.  Stephen is waiting for you; he’s taking a day off and Edgar’s friend, Singleton, arrives to-night.”

Singleton duly made his appearance, but he was not present when George and Stephen West sat down for a talk after dinner in the latter’s smoking-room.  Presently George took out the statement and handed it to his host.

“I want advice badly and I can’t go to an outsider for it,” he said.  “I feel quite safe in confiding in you.”

West studied the document for a while before he looked up.

“The main point to be decided is—­whether you should sell these shares at once for what they will bring, or wait a little?  With your permission, we’ll ask Singleton; he knows more about the matter than anybody else.”

Singleton came in and lighted a cigar, and then listened carefully, with a curious little smile, while West supplied a few explanations.

“Hold on to these shares, even if you have to make a sacrifice to do so,” he advised.

“But they seem to be almost worthless,” George objected.

“Perhaps I had better go into the matter fully,” said Singleton.  “I’ll do so on the understanding that what I’m about to tell you reaches nobody else.”

George looked at West, who nodded.

“Well,” explained Singleton, “I’ve come over on a flying visit about this rubber business.  The original company—­the one in which you hold shares—­was got up mainly with the idea of profiting by the rather reckless general buying of such stock.  Its tropical possessions were badly managed, though a little good rubber was shipped, and when prices reached their highest point Mr. Lansing sold out.”