at even a large amount of money would
cause no inconvenience to so wealthy a woman as Stephen. Beyond this, as
she would have the handing over of the money to Leonard, she would know
the amount. If advisable, she could remonstrate. She could if necessary
consult, in confidence, with Harold. Her relief from her greater fear,
and her gladness at this new proof of her niece's confidence, were
manifested in the extra affection with which she bade her good-night.

Stephen did not dare to breathe freely till she was quite alone; and as
she lay quiet in her bed in the dark she thought before sleep came.

Her first feeling was one of thankfulness that immediate danger was
swerving from her. Things were so shaping themselves that she need not
have any fear concerning Leonard. For his own sake he would have to keep
silent. If he intended to blackmail her she would have the protection of
her aunt's knowledge of the loan, and of her participation in it. The
only weapon that remained to him was her letter; and that she would get
from him before furnishing the money for the payment of his other debts.

These things out of the way, her thoughts turned to the matter of the
greater dread; that of which all along she had feared to think for a
moment: Harold!

Harold! and her treatment of him!

The first reception of the idea was positive anguish. From the moment he
had left her till now there had been no time when a consideration of the
matter was possible. Time pressed, or circumstances had interfered, or
her own personal condition had forbidden. Now, when she was alone, the
whole awful truth burst on her like an avalanche. Stephen felt the issue
of her thinking before the thinking itself was accomplished; and it was
with a smothered groan that she, in the darkness, held up her arms with
fingers linked in desperate concentration of appeal.

Oh, if she could only take back one hour of her life, well she knew what
that hour would be! Even that shameful time with Leonard on the hill-top
seemed innocuous beside the degrading remembrance of her conduct to the
noble friend of her whole life.

Sadly she turned over in her bed, and with shut eyes put her burning face
on the pillow, to hide, as it were, from herself her abject depth of
shame.

Leonard lounged through the next morning with what patience he could. At
four o'clock he was at the door of Normanstand in his dogcart. This time
he had a groom with him and a suitca