All of a sudden she heard a movement, and Tom's voice say audibly, "Let me bring Polly;" and he appeared, looking so pale and miserable that Polly was frightened.
"Go and say something to him; I can't; poor old father, if I 'd only known," and to Polly's utter dismay, Tom threw himself into a chair, and laid his head down on the table, as if he had got a blow that was too much for him.
"Oh, Tom, what is it ?" cried Polly, hurrying to him, full of fears she dared not speak.
Without looking up, Tom answered, in a smothered voice, "Failed; all gone to smash; and to-morrow every one will know it." Polly held on to the back of Tom's chair, for a minute, for the news took her breath away, and she felt as if the world was coming to an end, "failed" was such a vaguely dreadful word to her.
"Is it very bad ?" she asked, softly, feeling as if anything was better than to stand still and see Tom so wretched.
"Yes; he means to give up everything.

He 's done his best; but it can't be staved off any longer, and it 's all up with him." "Oh, I wish I had a million to give him!" cried Polly, clasping her hands, with the tears running down her cheeks.

"How does he bear it, Tom ?" "Like a man, Polly; and I 'm proud of him," said Tom, looking up, all red and excited with the emotions he was trying to keep under.
"Everything has been against him, and he has fought all alone to stand the pressure, but it 's too much for him, and he 's given in.

It 's an honorable failure, mind you, and no one can say a word against him.

I 'd like to see 'em try it!" and Tom clenched his hands, as if it would be an immense relief to him to thrash half a dozen aspersers of his father's honest name.
"Of course they can't! This is what poor Maud troubled about.