allowance?

He answered, hesitatingly, and with downcast eyes,--why--he did not
know. He was sorry. It had not been his fault. To say truth, Francis had
received the usual sums to purchase the bills. Till yesterday, he imagined
they had actually been purchased and sent. He always understood them to
have been so from Francis. He had mentioned, after seeing Risberg's
complaining letter, he had mentioned the affair to Francis. Francis had
confessed that he had never sent the bills. His own necessities compelled
him to apply the money given him for this purpose to his own use. To-be-
sure, Risberg was his nephew,--had always depended on him for his
maintenance; but somehow or another the wants of Francis had increased
very much of late years, and swallowed up all that he could _rap_ and
_rend_ without encroaching on his principal. Risberg was but his
nephew; Frank was his own and only son. To-be-sure, he once thought that
he had enough for his _three_ children; but times, it seems, were
altered. He did not spend on his own wants more than he used to do; but
Frank's expenses were very great, and swallowed up every thing. To-be-
sure, he pitied the young man, but he was enterprising and industrious,
and could, no doubt, shift for himself; yet he would be quite willing to
assist him, were it in his power; but really it was no longer in his
power.

I was, for a time, at a loss for words to express my surprise and
indignation at my brother's unfeeling selfishness. I could no longer
maintain my usual silence on his conduct, but inveighed against it, as
soon as I could find breath, with the utmost acrimony.

My father was embarrassed, confounded, grieved. He sighed, and even
wept.--"Francis," said he, at last, "to-be-sure, has not acted quite