red his former interview with her, and how he had been bested in
it; so he made up his mind to acquiesce in time. He went over to the
table and sat down. Taking a pen he turned to Miss Rowly and said:

'What shall I write?' She answered calmly:

'Date it, and then say, "Received from Miss Laetitia Rowly the receipts
for the following amounts from the various firms hereunder enumerated."'
She then proceeded to read them, he writing and repeating as he wrote.
Then she added:

'"The same being the total amount of my debts which she has kindly paid
for me."' He paused here; she asked.

'Why don't you go on?'

'I thought it was Stephen--Miss Norman,' he corrected, catching sight of
her lorgnon, 'who was paying them.'

'Good Lord, man,' she answered, 'what does it matter who has paid them,
so long as they are paid?'

'But I didn't ask you to pay them,' he went on obstinately. There was a
pause, and then the old lady, with a distinctly sarcastic smile, said:

'It seems to me, young man, that you are rather particular as to how
things are done for you. If you had begun to be just a little bit as
particular in making the debts as you are in the way of having them paid,
there would be a little less trouble and expense all round. However, the
debts have been paid, and we can't unpay them. But of course you can
repay me the money if you like. It amounts in all to four thousand three
hundred and seventeen pounds, twelve shillings and sixpence, and I have
paid every penny of it out of my own pocket. If you can't pay it
yourself, perhaps your father would like to do so.'

The last shot told; he went on writing: '"Kindly paid for me,"' she
continued in the same even voice:

'"In remembrance of my mother, of whom she was an acquaintance." Now
sign it!' He did so and handed it to her. She read it over carefully,
folded it, and put it in her pocket. She then stood. He rose also; and
as he moved to the door--he had not offered to shake hands with her--he
said:

'I should like to see, Miss Norman.'

'I am afraid you will have to wait.'

'Why?'

'She is over at Heply Regis. She went there for Lady Heply's ball, and
will remain for a few days. Good afternoon!' The tone in which the last
two words were spoken seemed in his ears like the crow of the victor
after a cock-fight.

As he was going out of the room a thought struck her. She felt he
deserved some punishment for his personal rudeness to her. After