Reginald Cruden | Page 7

one, I believe, beyond himself. For some time it seemed a fortunate
investment, and the shares rose in value, but latterly they took a turn for
the worse, and early this year I am sorry to say one of the railways
suspended payment altogether, and Mr Cruden lost a considerable
portion of his fortune thereby."
"I heard my husband say some months ago that he had made some
slight loss in the City," said Mrs Cruden, "but I imagined from the light
manner in which he treated it that it was quite trifling, and would be
quickly repaired."
"He did hope that would be the case. Although all his friends urged him
to sell out at once, he insisted on holding on, in the hope of the railway
recovering itself."
"And has it recovered?" asked Mrs Cruden, with a tremble in her voice.
"I regret to say it has not, Mrs Cruden. On the contrary, it was declared
bankrupt a few days ago, and what is still more deplorable, it has
involved in its own ruin the other railway in which the remainder of
your husband's property was invested, so that all the shares which stand
in his name in both concerns are now worth no more than the paper
they are printed on."
Mr Richmond came to the point at last with startling abruptness, so
much so that for a moment or two his listeners sat almost petrified by
the bad news, and unable to say a word. The lawyer finished what he
had to say without waiting.
"Your husband heard this lamentable news, Mrs Cruden, on the
occasion of his last visit to the City. The only call he made that day was
at his banker's, where he was told all, and there is no reason to doubt
that the shock produced the stroke from which he died."
"Mr Richmond," said Mrs Cruden, after a while, like one in a dream,

"can this be true? What does it all mean?"
"Alas! madam," said the lawyer, "it would be no kindness on my part to
deny the truth of what I have told you. It means that unless you or your
late husband are possessed of some means of income of which I know
nothing, your circumstances are reduced to a very low point."
"But there must be some mistake," said Horace. "Both railways can't
have gone wrong; we shall surely save something?"
"I wish I could hold out any hope. I have all the documents at my office,
and shall be only too glad, Mrs Cruden, to accompany you to the bank
for your own satisfaction."
Mrs Cruden shuddered and struggled bravely to keep down the rising
tears. A long pause ensued, every moment of which made the terrible
truth clearer to all three of the hearers, and closed every loophole of
hope.
"What can be done?" said Horace at last.
"Happily there is Garden Vale," said Reginald, and there was a choking
in the throat of the heir as he spoke; "we shall have to sell it."
"The contents of it, you will, Master Cruden," said the lawyer; "the
estate itself is held on lease."
"Well, the contents of it," said Reginald, bitterly; "you are not going to
make out they don't belong to us?"
"Certainly not," said Mr Richmond, on whom the taunt was quite lost;
"unless, as I trust is not the case, your father died in debt."
"Do you mean to say," said Horace, slowly, like one waking from a
dream, "do you mean to say we are ruined, Mr Richmond?"
"I fear it is so," said the lawyer, "unless Mr Cruden was possessed of
some means of income with which I was not acquainted. I regret very
much, Mrs Cruden, having to be the bearer of such bad news, and I can

only say the respect I had for your late husband will make any
assistance I can offer you, by way of advice or otherwise, a pleasure."
And Mr Richmond bowed himself out of the room with a smile.
It was a relief to be left alone, and Mrs Cruden, despite her weakness
and misery, struggled hard for the sake of her boys to put a brave face
on their trouble.
"Reg, dear," said she to her eldest son, who had fairly broken down,
and with his head on his hand was giving vent to his misery, "try to
bear it. After all, we are left to one another, and--"
The poor mother could not finish her sentence, but bent down and
kissed the wet cheek of the boy.
"Of course it means," said Horace, after a pause, "we shall have to give
up Garden Vale, and leave Wilderham too. And Reg was sure of a
scholarship next term. I say, mother, what are