Excuse my speaking bluntly on this subject; I am
accustomed to look on all matters where money is concerned purely
as matters of business."
I saw that he was taking several bank-notes out of the
pocket-book, and stopped him.
"I will gratefully receive back the little money I actually paid,
sir, because I am not well off, and it would be an ungracious act
of pride in me to refuse it from you," I said; "but I see you
handling bank-notes, any one of which is far beyond the amount
you have to repay me. Pray put them back, sir. What I did for
your poor lost sister I did from my love and fondness for her.
You have thanked me for that, and your thanks are all I can
receive."
He had hitherto concealed his feelings, but I saw them now begin
to get the better of him. His eyes softened, and he took my hand
and squeezed it hard.
"I beg your pardon," he said; "I beg your pardon, with all my
heart."
There was silence between us, for I was crying, and I believe, at
heart, he was crying too. At last he dropped my hand, and seemed
to change back, by an effort, to his former calmness.
"Is there no one belonging to you to whom I can be of service?"
he asked. "I see among the witnesses on the trial the name of a
young man who appears to have assisted you in the inquiries which
led to the prisoner's conviction.
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