at Sydney had denied his liability
influenced her in some subtle manner to do what she had already half
resolved to do without that additional argument.

She looked at the box in which she had put her twenty pounds, and she
looked at her father's signature. Then she opened the box and took out
the notes.

"You did quite right in coming, Mrs. Bundlecombe. This is certainly my
father's handwriting, and I suppose that if the debt had been settled
the paper would not have remained in your husband's possession. Here is
the money."

The old woman could scarcely believe her eyes; but she pocketed the
notes with great satisfaction, and began to express her admiration for
such honorable conduct in a very voluble manner. Lettice cut her short
and got rid of her, and then, if the truth must be confessed, she sat
down and had a comfortable cry over the speedy dissipation of her
savings.

CHAPTER VII.

MRS. HARTLEY AT HOME.

After her first Christmas in London, Lettice began to accept invitations
to the houses of her acquaintance.

She dined several times at the Grahams', where there were never more
than eight at table, and, being a bright talker and an appreciative
listener--two qualities which do not often go together--she was always
an impressive personality without exactly knowing it. Clara was
accustomed to be outshone by her in conversation, and had become used to
it, but some of the women whom Lettice was invited to meet looked at her
rather hard, as though they would have liked to draw her serious
attention to the fact that they were better looking, or better dressed,
or older or younger than herself, as the case might be, and that it was
consequently a little improper in her to be talked to so much by the
men.

Undoubtedly Lettice got on well with men, and was more at her ease with
them than with her own sex. It was not the effect of forwardness on her
part, and indeed she was scarcely conscious of the fact. She conversed
readily, because her mind was full of reading and of thought, and her
moral courage was never at a loss. The keenness of her perception led
her to understand and respond to the opinions of the cleverest men whom
she met, and it was not unnatural that they should be flattered.

It does not take long for a man or woman to earn a reputation in the
literary circles of London, provided he or she has real ability, and is
well introduced. The ability will not, as a rule, suffice without the
i