f your
generosity you would have to approach Mr. Reuben's solicitor through the
medium of your guardian, Mr. Hornby, and with the consent of the
accused. But I do not suppose the occasion will arise, although I am
very glad you called, as you may be able to give us valuable assistance
in other ways. For example, you might answer one or two apparently
impertinent questions."

"I should not consider any question impertinent that you considered
necessary to ask," our visitor replied.

"Then," said Thorndyke, "I will venture to inquire if any special
relations exist between you and Mr. Reuben."

"You look for the inevitable motive in a woman," said Miss Gibson,
laughing and flushing a little. "No, there have been no tender passages
between Reuben and me. We are merely old and intimate friends; in fact,
there is what I may call a tendency in another direction--Walter
Hornby."

"Do you mean that you are engaged to Mr. Walter?"

"Oh, no," she replied; "but he has asked me to marry him--he has asked
me, in fact, more than once; and I really believe that he has a sincere
attachment to me."

She made this latter statement with an odd air, as though the thing
asserted were curious and rather incredible, and the tone was evidently
noticed by Thorndyke as well as me for he rejoined--

"Of course he has. Why not?"

"Well, you see," replied Miss Gibson, "I have some six hundred a year of
my own and should not be considered a bad match for a young man like
Walter, who has neither property nor expectations, and one naturally
takes that into account. But still, as I have said, I believe he is
quite sincere in his professions and not merely attracted by my money."

"I do not find your opinion at all incredible," said Thorndyke, with a
smile, "even if Mr. Walter were quite a mercenary young man--which, I
take it, he is not."

Miss Gibson flushed very prettily as she replied--

"Oh, pray do not trouble to pay me compliments; I assure you I am by no
means insensible of my merits. But with regard to Walter Hornby, I
should be sorry to apply the term 'mercenary' to him, and yet--well, I
have never met a young man who showed a stronger appreciation of the
value of money. He means to succeed in life and I have no doubt he
will."

"And do I understand that you refused him?"

"Yes. My feelings towards him are quite friendly, but not of such a
nature as to allow me to contemplate marrying him."

"And now, to return for a moment t