212520_The_Adve ... _Way_Through_The_World.pdf - OUDL Home

ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 265
CHAPTER XV
SAMARITANS
THE children trotted up to their friend with outstretched hands
and their usual smiles of welcome. Philip patted their
heads, and sat down with very woebegone aspect at the
family table. " Ah, friends," said he, " do you know all ?"
" Yes, we do," said Laura sadly, who has ever compassion for
others' misfortunes.
" What ! is it all over the town already ?" asked poor Philip.
" We have a letter from your father this morning." And we
brought the letter to him, and showed him the affectionate special
message for himself.
" His last thought was for you, Philip !" cries Laura. " See
here, those last kind words !"
Philip shook his head. " It is not untrue, what is written here :
but it is not all the truth." And Philip Firmin dismayed us by
the intelligence which he proceeded to give. There was an execution
in the house in Old Parr Street. A hundred clamorous creditors
had already appeared there. Before going away, the Doctor had
taken considerable sums from those dangerous financiers to whom
he had been of late resorting. They were in possession of numberless
lately signed bills, upon which the desperate man had raised
money. He had professed to share with Philip, but he had taken
the great share, and left Philip two hundred pounds of his own
money. All the rest was gone. All Philip s stock had been sold
out. The father's fraud had made him master of the trustee's
signature: and Philip Firmin, reputed to be so wealthy, was a
beggar, in my room. Luckily he had few, or very trifling debts.
Mr. Philip had a lordly impatience of indebtedness, and, with a
good bachelor income, had paid for all his pleasures as he enjoyed
them.
Well! He must work. A young man ruined at two-andtwenty,
with a couple of hundred pounds yet in his pocket, hardly
knows that he is ruined. He will sell his horses—live in chambers
—has enough to go on for a year. " When I am very hard put to
it," says Philip, " I will come and dine with the children at one. I