s to putting it off。
With all this the man was in a ferment： by day he sat waiting and fearing； by night he lay sleepless and thinking； and； though his stoical countenance retained its composure； the furrows deepened in it； and the iron nerves began to twitch at times； from strain of mind and want of sleep； and that rack； suspense。 Not a night that he did not awaken a dozen times from his brief dozes with a start； and a dread of exposure by some mysterious； unforeseen means。
It is remarkable how truths sometimes flash on men at night in hours of nervous excitement； it was in one of these nightly reveries David Dodd's pocket…book flashed back upon Mr。 Hardie。 He saw it before his eyes quite plain； and on the inside of the leather cover a slip of paper pasted； and written on in pencil or pale ink； he could not recall which。
What was that writing？ It might be the numbers of the notes； the description of the bills。 Why had he not taken it out of the dying man's pocket？ 〃Fool！ fool！〃 he groaned； 〃to do anything by halves。〃
Another night he got a far severer shock。 Lying in his bed dozing and muttering as usual； he was suddenly startled out of that uneasy slumber by three tremendous knocks at the street door。
He sprang out of bed； and in his confusion made sure the officers of justice were come for him： he began to huddle on his clothes with a vague notion of flight。
He had got on his trousers and slippers； and was looking under his pillow for the fatal Cash； when he heard himself called loudly and repeatedly by name； but this time the sound came from the garden into which his bedroom looked。 He opened it very softly； in trepidation and wonder； which were speedily doubled by what met his eyes； for there； right in front of his window； stood an unearthly figure； corresponding in every particular to that notion of a ghost in which we are reared； and which； when our nerves are healthy； we can ridicule as it deserves； but somehow it is never cleaned out of our imagination so thoroughly as it is out of our judgment。
The figure was white as a sheet and seemed supernaturally tall； and it cried out in a voice like a wounded lion's； 〃You villain！ you Hardie！ give me back my money： my fourteen thousand pounds。 Give me my children's money； or may your children die before your eyes： give me my darlings' money； or may the eternal curse of God light on you and yours； you scoundrel！〃
And the figure kneeled on the grass； and repeated the terrible imprecation almost in the same words； with such energy that Hardie shrank back； and； resolute as he was； cowered； with superstitious awe。
But this sentiment soon gave way to vulgar fears； the man would alarm the town。 And in fact Mr。 Hardie； in the midst of his agitation； was dimly conscious of hearing a window open softly not very far from him。 But it was a dark night。 He put his head out in great agitation； and whispered； 〃Hush！ hush！ I'll bring it you down directly。〃
Internally cursing his hard fate； he got the fatal Cash； put on his coat； hunted for the key of the bank parlour； and； having found it； went softly down the stairs； unlocked the door； and went to open the shutters。
At this moment his ear caught a murmur； a low buzzing of voices in the garden。
He naturally thought that Captain Dodd was exposing him to some of the townspeople。 He was puzzled what to do； and； like a cautious man as he was； remained passive but on the watch。
Presently the voices were quiet； and he heard footsteps come very slowly towards the window at which he stood； and then make for the little gate。 On this he slipped into the kitchen； which faced the street and got to a window there； and listened。 His only idea was to catch their intentions if possible； and meet them accordingly。 He dared not open the window； for about him on the pavement he saw a female figure half standing； half crouching： but soon that figure rushed wildly out of his sight to meet the footsteps； and then he ventured to open the window； and listening； heard cries of despair； and a young heart…broken voice say her father was dead。
〃Ah！！ that is all right；〃 muttered Hardie。
Still； even this profound egotist was not yet so hardened but that he felt one chill of horror at himself for the thoughta passing chill。
He listened and listened； and by…and…bye he heard the slow feet recommence their journey； amidst sobs and sights； and those sorrowful feet； and the sobs and sighs of his causing； got fainter； and fainter； retreated； and left him in quiet possession of the L。 14；000 he had brought down to give it up： two minutes ago it was not worth as many pence to him。
He drew a long breath of relief。 〃It is mine； I am to keep it。 It is the will of Heaven。〃
Poor Heaven！
He went to his bed again； and by a resolute effort composed himself and determined to sheep。 And in fact he was just dropping off； when suddenly he started wide awake again： for it recurred to him vividly that a window in his house had opened while David was cursing him and demanding his children's money。
Whose window？
Half…a…dozen people and more slept on that side of the house。
Whose window could it be？
He walked among fires。
CHAPTER XXIV
NOT many days after this a crowd of persons stood in front of the old bank； looking half stupefied at the shutters； and at a piece of paper pasted on them announcing a suspension； only for a months or so； and laying the blame on certain correspondents not specified。
So great was the confidence inspired by the old bank； that many said it would come round； it must come round in a month： but other of Mr。 Hardie's unfortunate clients recognised in the above a mere formula to let them down by degrees： they had seen many statements as hopeful end in a dividend of sixpence in the pound。
Before the day closed； the scene at the bank door was heart…rending： respectable persons； reduced to pauperism in that day； kept arriving and telling their fellow…sufferers their little all was with Hardie； and nothing before them but the workhouse or the almshouse： ruined mothers came and held up their ruined children for the banker to see； and the doors were hammered at； and the house as well as the bank was beleaguered by a weeping； wailing； despairing crowd。
But like an idle wave beating on a rock； all this human misery dashed itself in vain against the banker's brick walls and shutters； hard to them as his very heart
The next day they mobbed Alfred and hissed him at the back…door。 Jane was too ashamed and too frightened to stir out。 Mr。 Hardie sat calmly putting the finishing strokes to his fabricated balance…sheet。
Some innocent and excited victims went to the mayor for redress； to the aldermen； the magistratesin vain。
Towards afternoon the banker's cool contempt for his benefactors； whose lives he had darkened； received a temporary check。 A heavy stone was flung at the bank shutters： this ferocious blow made him start and the place rattle： it was the signal for a shower； and presently tink； tink； went the windows of the house； and in came the stones； starring the mirrors； upsetting the chairs； denting the papered walls； chipping the mantelpieces； shivering the bell glasses and statuettes； and strewing the room with dirty pebbles； and painted fragments； and glittering ruin。
Hardie winced： this was the sort of appeal to touch him。 But soon he recovered his _sang froid。_ 〃Thank you；〃 said he； 〃I'm much obliged to you； now I'm in the right and you are in the wrong。〃 And he put himself under protection of the police； and fee'd them so royally that they were zealous on his behalf and rough and dictatorial even with those who thronged the place only to moan and lament and hold up their ruined children。 〃You _must_ move on； you Misery；〃 said the police。 And they were right： Misery gains nothing by stopping the way； nothing by bemoaning itself。
But if the banker； naturally egotistical； and now entirely wrapped in his own plans； and fears； and well…earned torments； was deaf to the anguish of his clients； there were others in his house who felt it keenly and deeply。 Alfred and Jane were heart…broken： they sat hand in hand in a little room； drawn closer by misfortune； and heard the groans at their door； and the tears of pity ran down their own cheeks hot with shame； and Alfred wrote on the fly…leaf of his 〃Ethics〃 a vow to pay every shilling his father owed these poor peoplebefore he died。 It was like him； and like his happy age； at which the just and the generous can command； in imagination； the means to do kindred deeds。
Soon he found； to his horror； that he had seen but a small percentage of the distress his father had caused； the greater griefs； as usual； stayed at home。 Behind the gadding woes lay a terrible number of silent； decent ruined homes and broken hearts； and mixed sorrows so unmerited； so complicated； so piteous； and so cruel； that he was ready to tear his hair； to know them and not be able to relieve them instantly。
Of that mere sample I give a mere sample： divine the bulk then； and revolve a page of human history often turned by the people； but too little studied by statisticians and legislators。
Mr。 Esgar； a respectable merchant； had heavy engagements； to meet which his money lay at the old bank。 Living at a distance； he did not hear the news till near dinner…time； and he had promised to take his daughters to a ball that night。 He did so； left them there； went home； packed up their clothes and valuables； and next day levanted with them to America； taking all the money he could scrape together in London； and so he passed his ruin on to others。 Esgar was one of those who wear their honesty long but loose： it was his first disloyal act in business。 〃Dishonesty made me dishonest；〃 was his excuse。 _Valeat quantum。_
John Shaw； a steady footman； had saved and saved； from twenty…one years old to thirty…eight； for 〃Footman's Paradise；〃 a public…house。 He was now engaged to a comely barmaid； who sympathised with him therein； and he had just concluded a bargain for the 〃Rose and Crown〃 in the suburbs。 Unluckilyfor himthe money had not been paid over。 The blow fell： he lost his all； not his money only； but his wasted life。 He could not be twenty…one again； so he hanged himself within forty…eigh