But Mr. Grey
had attended very little to all this, having his mind preoccupied with
the secret of the money which he had lent.
Therefore Dolly did not put out her candle, and arrayed herself for bed
in the costume with which she was wont to make her nocturnal visits. She
had perceived that her father had something on his mind which it would
be necessary that he should tell. She was soon summoned, and having
seated herself on the bed, began the conversation: "I knew you would
want me to-night."
"Why so?"
"Because you've got something to tell. It's about Mr. Barry."
"No indeed."
"That's well. Just at this moment I seem to care about Mr. Barry more
than any other trouble. But I fear that he has forgotten me
altogether,--which is not complimentary."
"Mr. Barry will turn up all in proper time," said her father. "I have
got nothing to say about Mr. Barry just at present, so if you are
love-lorn you had better go to bed."
"Very well. When I am love-lorn I will. Now, what have you got to tell
me?"
"I have lent a man a large sum of money,--two hundred and twenty-seven
pounds!"
"You are always lending people large sums of money."
"I generally get it back again."
"From Mr. Carroll, for instance,--when he borrows it for a pair of
breeches and spends it in gin-and-water.
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