ny one in England to
prosecute--"

"Yes, there is the lady's agent. He sat by you when we first saw the
shawl. Mr. Hepworth Closs."

Matthew Stacy sprang to his feet, perfectly aghast.

"And you have told him?"

"Not yet; but I mean to!"

"You mean to--"

"Yes, I do!"

"That is it--that is it--the self-same cretur that left the print of her
fingers on my cheek, and of herself on my heart. It is her who wishes to
cast me to the earth, and have me stamped on by the law. Oh, Maggie
Casey, Maggie Casey, I wouldn't have believed it of you!"

"And I wouldn't have believed you capable of refusing me fifty pounds!"

"Fifty pounds! It was twenty-five, Miss Margaret."

"Yes; but I've changed my mind. One does not want to be refused a
miserable sum like that. I've doubled it."

"But I did not refuse; I only wanted to put the subject off till we had
talked of old times--I didn't refuse you by any manner of means. You
hadn't told me anything about yourself--how you came here, and what you
were doing, or anything that an old lover's heart was panting to know."

"Well, I will tell you now. I have been, ever since that time, in the
family of a nobleman, as a sort of half servant, half companion to his
daughter."

"You don't say so! Then what on earth can you want of twenty-five
pounds?"

"Fifty."

"Well, fifty it is, then. Between us, that was all I hesitated about;
twenty-five pounds was such a pitiful sum for you to ask of me. You
didn't understand this noble feeling, and almost threatened me; but not
quite, and I'm glad of it, for Matthew Stacy is the last man on earth to
give up to a threat. I hope you will believe that, Miss Margaret."

"Fifty pounds!" said Margaret, lifting a tuft of grass by the roots with
the point of her parasol.

"Did I dispute its being fifty? Certainly not. Now just say how you will
take it--in gold or Bank of England notes?"

"Notes will do."

"I'm glad you said that, because I happen to have the notes about me,"
answered the alderman, drawing out a plethoric note-case, and counting
the money with terrible reluctance. "Here we are; just the sum. Now tell
me, were you really in earnest about its being fifty?"

"Just fifty," answered Margaret, counting the money on her lap; "just
fifty."

Matthew heaved a grievous sigh, and stood up.

"Now I suppose that little affair is settled forever?" he said, working
both hands about the head of his cane, while he eyed the girl askance.