at the half sheet
lying beneath it was enough. That particular bill had grown painfully
familiar during the last few months. It was from Lahore, and its total
was no less than three hundred rupees. Her husband's waiting silence
was more disconcerting than speech.

"It's mine," she murmured breathlessly; and snatched at the offending
scrap of paper, tearing it in two.

"The bill is mine now," Desmond rebuked her with studied equanimity.
"You can't cancel it by destroying it. No doubt you've got another
copy. Will you let me have it and any others you happen to have by
you?"

"Where's the use of that?... You can't pay off anything now."

"I can and will pay off every penny. But I must know exactly how you
stand."

For all his coldness, the assurance fell on her heart like rain on
thirsty soil. Where the money was to come from she could not guess.
But she knew enough of the man to feel sure that his words would be
fulfilled to the letter.

One consideration only withheld her from reply. How much did she dare
confess to him even now? Not Miss Kresney's transaction; nor the need
of new dresses for Lahore. But the rest!... What an unspeakable
comfort it would be to fling all the rest on to his shoulders, that
seemed broad and strong enough to carry her burdens and his own.

Her hesitancy pricked him to impatience.

"Well, Evelyn, I am waiting for your answer. Are there other bills
besides that one?--Yes or No. I want the truth. Don't stop to
embroider it."

At that the blood flew to her cheeks. She sprang up and faced him,
tremulous, but defiant.

"If you say things like _that_ to me, I won't tell you anything at all
... ever." And turning sharply away, to hide her tears, she went over
to the mantelpiece and leaned upon it, keeping her back towards him.

Desmond followed her.

"I am sorry if I hurt you," he said, a touch of bitterness in his
tone. "But the fact that I can speak so without doing you a gross
injustice hurts me more than you are ever likely to understand."

"You make it all seem much worse--than it really is," she answered
without looking round. "I haven't done anything dreadful, after all.
Heaps of people get into debt. You weren't so angry with Mr Denvil;
and--and--if you hadn't been in such a hurry to help him, you'd have
found it easier to help me now."

"No need to fling that in my teeth, or drag the Boy into the
discussion. The cases are not parallel, and you have only yourself to
than