e had
not opened it, but had allowed it to rest beside her plate all breakfast-
time. Then she had taken it away with her to her own sitting-room.
Stephen did not appear to take any notice of it. She knew quite well
that it was from some one in London whom her aunt had asked to pay
Leonard's bills. She also knew that the old lady had some purpose in her
reticence, so she waited. She was learning to be patient in these days.
Miss Rowly did say anything about it that day, or the next, or the next.
The third-morning, she received another letter which she had read in an
enlightening manner. She began its perusal with set brow frowning, then
she nodded her head and smiled. She put the letter back in its envelope
and placed it in the little bag always carried. But she said nothing.
Stephen wondered, but waited.

That night, when Stephen's maid had left her, there came a gentle tap at
her door, and an instant after the door opened. The tap had been a
warning, not a request; it had in a measure prepared Stephen, who was not
surprised to see her Aunt in dressing-gown, though it was many a long day
since she had visited her niece's room at night. She closed the door
behind her, saying:

'There is something I want to talk to you about, dearest, and I thought
it would be better to do so when there could not be any possible
interruption. And besides,' here there was a little break in her voice,
'I could hardly summon up my courage in the daylight.' She stopped, and
the stopping told its own story. In an instant Stephen's arm's were
round her, all the protective instinct in her awake, at the distress of
the woman she loved. The old lady took comfort from the warmth of the
embrace, and held her tight whilst she went on:

'It is about these bills, my dear. Come and sit down and put a candle
near me. I want you to read something.'

'Go on, Auntie dear,' she said gravely. The old lady, after a pause,
spoke with a certain timidity:

'They are all paid; at least all that can be. Perhaps I had better read
you the letter I have had from my solicitors:

'"Dear Madam,--In accordance with your instructions we have paid all the
accounts mentioned in Schedule A (enclosed). We have placed for your
convenience three columns: (1) the original amount of each account, (2)
the amount of discount we were able to arrange, and (3) the amount paid.
We regret that we have been unable to carry out your wishes with regard
to the items