. Why won't you trust me? why won't
you let me be your banker?"

She blushed crimson as she made this offer, dreading that the man she
loved would turn upon her fiercely in a passion of offended pride. She
sat before him trembling, dreading the might of his indignation.

But there was no anger in John Saltram's face when he looked round at
her; only grief and an expression that was like pity.

"The offer is like you," he said with suppressed feeling; "but the
worries of which I spoke just now are not money troubles. I do not
pretend to deny that my affairs are embarrassed, and have been for so
long that entanglement has become their normal state; but if they were
ever so much more desperate, I could not afford to trade upon your
generosity. No, Mrs. Branston, that is just the very last thing in this
world that I could consent to do."

"It is very cruel of you to say that," Adela answered, with the tears
gathering in her clear blue eyes, and with a little childish look of
vexation, which would have seemed infinitely charming in the eyes of a
man who loved her. "There can be no reason for your saying this, except
that you do not think me worthy of your confidence--that you despise me
too much to treat me like a friend. If I were that Mr. Fenton now, whom
you care for so much, you would not treat me like this."

"I never borrowed a sixpence from Gilbert Fenton in my life, though I
know that his purse is always open to me. But friendship is apt to end
when money transactions begin. Believe me, I feel your goodness, Mrs.
Branston, your womanly generosity; but it is my own unworthiness that
comes between me and your kindness. I can accept nothing from you but the
sympathy which it is your nature to give to all who need it."

"I do indeed sympathise with you; but it seems so hard that you will not
consent to make some use of all that money which is lying idle. It would
make me so happy if I could think it were useful to you; but I dare not
say any more. I have said too much already, perhaps; only I hope you will
not think very badly of me for having acted on impulse in this way."

"Think badly of you, my dear kind soul! What can I think, except that you
are one of the most generous of women?"

"And about these other troubles, Mr. Saltram, which have no relation to
money matters; you will not give me your confidence?"

"There is nothing that I can confide in you, Mrs. Branston. Others are
involved in the matter of whic