You know nothing about business and will not understand it; but Grapnell & Co.

have failed for a million, and we are totally ruined--your aunt Gascoigne as well as I, only that your uncle has his benefice, so that by putting down their carriage and getting interest for the boys, the family can go on.

All the property our poor father saved for us goes to pay the liabilities.

There is nothing I can call my own.

It is better you should know this at once, though it rends my heart to have to tell it you.