That is all the reproach, all the criticism you are going to get from me.

Deal with yourself and your God in silence." And in silence and heavy dismay Selwyn confronted the sacrifice he must make to save the honour of the house of Erroll.
It meant more than temporary inconvenience to himself; it meant that he must go into the market and sell securities which were partly his capital, and from which came the modest income that enabled him to live as he did.
There was no other way, unless he went to Austin.

But he dared not do that--dared not think what Austin's action in the matter might be.

And he knew that if Gerald were ever driven into hopeless exile with Austin's knowledge of his disgrace rankling, the boy's utter ruin must result inevitably.
Yet--yet--how could he afford to do this--unoccupied, earning nothing, bereft of his profession, with only the chance in view that his Chaosite might turn out stable enough to be marketable?
How could he dare so strip himself?
Yet, there was no other way; it had to be done; and done at once--the very first thing in the morning before it became too late.
And at first, in the bitter resentment of the necessity, his impulse was to turn on Gerald and bind him to good conduct by every pledge the boy could give.

At least there would be compensation.