CHAPTER II.
"There comes Forever something between us and what We deem our happiness." BYRON'S SARDANAPALUS.
It was quite late when the young party returned, and the next day all were dull, and more than one peevish and fretful; so that Elsie, on whom fell, almost entirely, the burden of entertaining them, had quite a trying time.
She noticed at breakfast that Arthur seemed in an uncommonly bad humor, preserving a sullen and dogged silence, excepting once when a sly whisper from Harry Carrington drew from him an exclamation of fierce anger that almost frightened the children, but only made Harry laugh.
Presently after, as they were about dispersing, Arthur came to her side and whispered that he had something to say to her in private.
Elsie started and looked extremely annoyed, but said at once that he might come to her room, and that there they could be quite alone, as mammy would be down-stairs getting her breakfast.
She led the way and Arthur followed.

He glanced hastily around on entering and then locked the door and stood with his back against it.
Elsie became very pale.
"You needn't be _afraid_" he said, sneeringly, "I'm not going to _hurt_ you!" "What do you want, Arthur?
tell me quickly, please, because I must soon go to papa, and I have a lesson to look over first," she said, mildly.
"I want you to lend me some money," he replied, speaking in a rapid and determined manner; "I know you've got some, for I saw your purse the other day, and it hadn't less than five dollars in it, I'm sure, and that's just the sum I want." "What do you want it for, Arthur ?" she asked in a troubled voice.
"That's none of your business," he answered, fiercely.

"I want the money; I _must_ have it, and I'll pay it back next month, and that's all you need to know." "No, Arthur," she said gently, but very firmly, "unless you tell me all about it, I cannot lend you a single cent, because papa has forbidden me to do so, and I cannot disobey him." "Nonsense! that's nothing but an excuse because you don't choose to do me a favor," returned the boy angrily; "you weren't so particular about obeying last summer when he made you sit all the afternoon at the piano, because you didn't choose to play what he told you to." "That was because it would have been breaking God's command; but this is very different," replied Elsie, mildly.
"Well, if you _must_ know," said he, fiercely, "I want it to pay a debt; I've been owing Dick Percival a dollar or so for several weeks, and last night he won from me again, and he said if I didn't pay up he'd report me to papa, or Horace, and get the money from them; and I got off only by promising to let him have the full amount to-day; but my pocket money's all gone, and I can't get anything out of mamma, because she told me the last time I went to her, that she couldn't give me any more without papa finding out all about it.

So you see there is nobody to help me but you, Elsie, for there's never any use in asking my sisters; they never have a cent to spare! Now be a good, obliging girl; come and let me have the money." "Oh! Arthur, you've been gambling; how _could_ you do so ?" she exclaimed with a horrified look.

"It is so _very_ wicked! you'll go to ruin, Arthur, if you keep on in such bad ways; do go to grandpa and tell him all about it, and promise never to do so again, and I am sure he will forgive you, and pay your debts, and then you will feel a great deal happier." "Tell papa, indeed; never! I'd _die_ first! Elsie, you _must_ lend me the money," he said, seizing her by the wrist.
"Let go of me, Arthur," she said, trying to free herself from his grasp.
"You are stronger than I am, but you know if you hurt me, papa will be sure to find it out." He threw her hand from him with a violence that made her stagger, and catch at the furniture to save herself from falling.
"Will you give me the money then ?" he asked angrily.
"If I should do so, I would have to put it down in my expense book, and tell papa all about it, because he does not allow me to spend one cent without telling him just what it went for; and that would be much worse for you, Arthur, than to go and confess it yourself--a _great deal_ worse, I am sure." "You could manage it well enough, if you wanted to," said he, sullenly; "it would be an easy matter to add a few yards to the flannel, and a few pounds to the tobacco that you bought so much of for the old servants.
Just give _me_ your book, and I'll fix it in a minute, and he'll never find it out." "Arthur!" she exclaimed, "I could _never_ do such a wicked thing! I would not deceive papa so for any money; and even if I did he would be sure to find it out." Some one tried the door.
Arthur put his hand on the lock; then, turning toward Elsie again, for an instant, shook his fist in her face, muttering, with an oath, that he would be revenged, and make her sorry for her refusal to the last day of her life.