so unmanageably that the tea missed
the cup and streamed out on the cloth. "I'm very sorry; I can't help
trembling when I'm anxious," said the old man, as his son took the
tea-pot out of his hand. "I'm afraid you bear me malice, Jemmy, for what
happened when I was last in town. I own I was obstinate and unreasonable
about going back to Thorpe Ambrose. I'm more sensible now. You were
quite right in taking it all on yourself, as soon as I showed you the
veiled lady when we saw her come out of the hotel; and you were quite
right to send me back the same day to my business in the steward's
office at the Great House." He watched the effect of these concessions
on his son, and ventured doubtfully on another entreaty. "If you won't
tell me anything else just yet," he said, faintly, "will you tell me how
you found her out. Do, Jemmy, do!"

Bashwood the younger looked up from his plate. "I'll tell you that," he
said. "The reckoning up of Miss Gwilt has cost more money and taken more
time than I expected; and the sooner we come to a settlement about it,
the sooner we shall get to what you want to know."

Without a word of expostulation, the father laid his dingy old
pocket-book and his purse on the table before the son. Bashwood the
younger looked into the purse; observed, with a contemptuous elevation
of the eyebrows, that it held no more than a sovereign and some silver;
and returned it intact. The pocket-book, on being opened next, proved to
contain four five-pound notes. Bashwood the younger transferred three
of the notes to his own keeping; and handed the pocket-book back to his
father, with a bow expressive of mock gratitude and sarcastic respect.

"A thousand thanks," he said. "Some of it is for the people at our
office, and the balance is for myself. One of the few stupid things,
my dear sir, that I have done in the course of my life was to write
you word, when you first consulted me, that you might have my services
gratis. As you see, I hasten to repair the error. An hour or two at odd
times I was ready enough to give you. But this business has taken days,
and has got in the way of other jobs. I told you I couldn't be out of
pocket by you--I put it in my letter, as plain as words could say it."

"Yes, yes, Jemmy. I don't complain, my dear, I don't complain. Never
mind the money--tell me how you found her out."

"Besides," pursued Bashwood, the younger, proceeding impenetrably
with his justification of himself, "I ha