ust been
paid, and the rent that must be paid before the end of the month, they
would be cleared out, without advancing money to strangers that were in
their debt already. As Mrs. Frankland was really the bread-winner, and
at their present low water the purse-keeper also, Mrs. Peck saw it was
of no use to press her offers on her husband in the face of such
formidable opposition.

On the following day she started early in the mail conveyance for
Adelaide, leaving Peck behind as a pledge for the settlement of the
bill, and determined to raise ten or twelve pounds somehow.

With Mr. Talbot's letter in her hand she presented herself to a
bill-discounter in Adelaide. He understood her position at once; that
she was somehow connected with, but very obnoxious to a wealthy client
of Mr. Talbot's, for Mr. Phillips's name was not mentioned in the
letter; and also that, like most people of her class and habits, she
had spent her money before she got it. Of course she said nothing of
wanting to go to Melbourne, in which case, by the body of the letter,
it would be almost certain that her annuity would cease, but the
discounter wanted some security against such a contingency, and asked
her if she meant to stay in South Australia, according to agreement.
Mrs. Peck was willing to say anything, to swear anything, and to sign
anything, for his satisfaction on this point, but her very fluency made
him suspicious.

"I cannot advance this money," said he, "even on the deposit of your
order to arrest what is coming to you, unless I have some collateral
security, or some other name, in case of your going to Victoria."

Mrs. Peck could get no one to corroborate her statements but Peck, who
could be of no service to her. She felt rather in a fix.

"What should take me to Melbourne?" said she, in accents of great
surprise. "It is so much against my interest to go there, that I would
never be such a fool as to quarrel with my bread and butter; but it so
happens I am much in need of money just at the present. I am expecting
money from Scotland every mail. Indeed, it was trusting to that as put
me so back this quarter. I never doubted that I'd get a handsome sum
from Scotland; I've got the rights to it, and if it don't come by next
mail, I will prosecute. You are sure to get your money well paid, with
good interest, if you do run just a little risk."

"That may be all very well," said the bill discounter; "but, in the
meantime, can you not