He was not a reformed rake, but only a ruined one then.
Austin was very good to him. Mr. Danvers says it is quite unaccountable how
Silas can have made away with the immense sums he got from his brother from
time to time without benefiting himself in the least. But, my dear, he
played; and trying to help a man who plays, and is unlucky--and some men
are, I believe, habitually unlucky--is like trying to fill a vessel that
has no bottom. I think, by-the-by, my hopeful nephew, Charles Oakley,
plays. Then Silas went most unjustifiably into all manner of speculations,
and your poor father had to pay everything. He lost something quite
astounding in that bank that ruined so many country gentlemen--poor Sir
Harry Shackleton, in Yorkshire, had to sell half his estate. But your kind
father went on helping him, up to his marriage--I mean in that extravagant
way which was really totally useless.'
'Has my aunt been long dead?'
'Twelve or fifteen years--more, indeed--she died before your poor mamma.
She was very unhappy, and I am sure would have given her right hand she had
never married Silas.'
'Did you like her?'
'No, dear; she was a coarse, vulgar woman.
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