He had never told any one of these, not even the girl he loved, but they existed all the same.

For many years he had been assisting needy relatives, and thus had hampered himself, in spite of his income.

By sheer force of will, so as to force Braddock into giving him Lucy, he had contrived to secure the necessary thousand pounds, without confusing the arrangements he had made to pay off certain debts connected with his domestic philanthropy; but this brought him to the end of his resources.

In six months he hoped to be free to have his income entirely to himself, and then--small as it was--he could support a wife.

But until the half year elapsed he could see no chance of marrying Lucy with any degree of comfort, and meanwhile she would be exposed to the persecutions of the Professor.