se packed for a night's use, as he
was to go on to London after his interview with Stephen. He had lost
sight altogether of the matter of Stephen's letter, or else he would have
been more nervous.

He was taken into the blue drawing-room, where shortly Miss Rowly joined
him. He had not expected this. His mental uneasiness manifested itself
in his manner, and his fidgeting was not unobserved by the astute old
lady. He was disconcerted; 'overwhelmed' would better have described his
feelings when she said:

'Miss Norman is sorry she can't see you to-day as she is making a visit;
but she has given me a message for you, or rather a commission to
discharge. Perhaps you had better sit down at the table; there are
writing materials there, and I shall want a receipt of some sort.'

'Stephen did not say anything about a receipt!' The other smiled sweetly
as she said in a calm way:

'But unfortunately Miss Norman is not here; and so I have to do the best
I can. I really must have some proof that I have fulfilled my trust. You
see, Mr. Everard, though it is what lawyers call a "friendly"
transaction, it is more or less a business act; and I must protect
myself.'

Leonard saw that he must comply, for time pressed. He sat down at the
table. Taking up a pen and drawing a sheet of paper towards him, he said
with what command of his voice he could:

'What am I to write?' The old lady took from her basket a folded sheet
of notepaper, and, putting on her reading-glasses, said as she smoothed
it out:

'I think it would be well to say something like this--"I, Leonard
Everard, of Brindehow, in the Parish of Normanstand, in the County of
Norcester, hereby acknowledge the receipt from Miss Laetitia Rowly of
nine hundred pounds sterling lent to me in accordance with my request,
the same being to clear me of a pressing debt due by me.'

When he had finished writing the receipt Miss Rowly looked it over, and
handing it back to him, said:

'Now sign; and date!' He did so with suppressed anger.

She folded the document carefully and put it in her pocket. Then taking
from the little pouch which she wore at her belt a roll of notes, she
counted out on the table nine notes of one hundred pounds each. As she
put down the last she said:

'Miss Norman asked me to say that a hundred pounds is added to the sum
you specified to her, as doubtless the usurers would, since you are
actually behind the time promised for repayment, req