Hughes was ever
ready to listen to him with sympathy and kindness.
CHAPTER LXVI
ERNEST was now so far convalescent as to be able to sit up for the
greater part of the day. He had been three months in prison, and,
though not strong enough to leave the infirmary, was beyond all fear
of a relapse. He was talking one day with Mr. Hughes about his future,
and again expressed his intention of emigrating to Australia or New
Zealand with the money he should recover from Pryer. Whenever he spoke
of this he noticed that Mr. Hughes looked grave and was silent: he had
thought that perhaps the chaplain wanted him to return to his
profession, and disapproved of his evident anxiety to turn to
something else; now, however, he asked Mr. Hughes point blank why it
was that he disapproved of his idea of emigrating.
Mr. Hughes endeavoured to evade him, but Ernest was not to be put
off. There was something in the chaplain's manner which suggested that
he knew more than Ernest did, but did not like to say it. This alarmed
him so much that he begged him not to keep him in suspense; after a
little hesitation Mr. Hughes, thinking him now strong enough to
stand it, broke the news as gently as he could that the whole of
Ernest's money had disappeared.
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