ts. She feared she might get angry; and in the present state
of her mind towards Leonard the expression of any feeling, even contempt,
would not be wise. Her best protection from him would be a manifest
kindly negation of any special interest. In the second place, she
believed that he would have her letter with the other papers, and she did
not wish her aunt to see it, lest she should recognise the writing. In
her boudoir, with a beating heart, she untied the string and looked
through the papers.

Her letter was not among them.

For a few seconds she stood stock still, thinking. Then, with a sigh,
she sat down and began to read the list of debts, turning to the
originals now and again for details. As she went on, her wonder and
disgust grew; and even a sense of fear came into her thoughts. A man who
could be so wildly reckless and so selfishly unscrupulous was to be
feared. She knew his father was a comparatively poor man, who could not
possibly meet such a burden. If he were thus to his father, what might
he be to her if he got a chance.

The thought of what he might have been to her, had he taken the chance
she had given him, never occurred to her. This possibility had already
reached the historical stage in her mind.

She made a few pencil notes on the list; and went back to the study. Her
mind was made up.

She was quite businesslike and calm, did not manifest the slightest
disapproval, but seemed to simply accept everything as facts. She asked
Leonard a few questions on subjects regarding which she had made notes,
such as discounts. Then she held the paper out to him and without any
preliminary remark said:

'Will you please put the names to these?'

'How do you mean?' he asked, flushing.

'The names of the persons to whom these sums marked "debt of honour" are
due.' His reply came quickly, and was a little aggressive; he thought
this might be a good time to make a bluff:

'I do not see that that is necessary. I can settle them when I have the
money.' Slowly and without either pause or flurry Stephen replied,
looking him straight in the eyes as she handed him the papers:

'Of course it is not necessary! Few things in the world really are! I
only wanted to help you out of your troubles; but if you do not wish me
to . . . !' Leonard interrupted in alarm:

'No! no! I only spoke of these items. You see, being "debts of honour"
I ought not to give the names.' Looking with a keen glance