Christopher ran off with it and meeting Nevil on the stairs gave it into his hand. Renata had gone to dress, and Nevil sauntered in to his wife with her "spoils" at once. "Seven pounds, four and sixpence," she said gleefully. "For the creche fund. It was nice of Aymer. I had not meant to worry him to-day, but he wanted distraction." "I thought Vespasian kept his money. Six pounds four and sixpence, Renata," Nevil remarked, counting the money carelessly. She came over to him, brush in hand. "You can't even do addition. Nothing but dates! I counted it most carefully, so did Aymer." "Then he's defrauded you of a pound since." "Nonsense." They counted it together, but no amount of reckoning would make seven sovereigns out of six. The silver was correct. "It must have fallen down," said Renata at last and put it away carefully in her desk. They were late for dinner, and Mr. Aston pretended to upbraid them and told Renata to take her soup and leave her correspondence alone, for there was a big envelope lying by her plate. It was her father-in-law's contribution to the creche scheme, Aymer having forestalled her request, and joined forces with his father in a really adequate sum. Renata got pink with pleasure as she looked at the cheque. She was, however, far too shy to express her real gratitude in words before them all. She smiled at the donor and remarked she would give him a big photograph in a beautiful frame of the first baby admitted to the creche, to hang in his room as a slight token of her appreciation of his gift. "It shall take the place of Charlotte," he assured her gravely. Aymer looked aggrieved. "May I ask the precise sum, Renata?" he inquired pointedly, "that earns so gracious a reward." "It's three figures," she answered, regarding the precious slip of paper affectionately before replacing it in its imposing envelope. "Ninety-two pounds, fifteen and sixpence more," he groaned; "it's a lot for a photograph of a mere baby, but I can't be left out in the cold." "Perhaps I can let you have one without a frame for less, only father's must be the best." "Nevil," remarked Aymer severely, "I would call your attention to the fact that your wife is beginning to weigh men's merits by their means." Nevil only laughed. "I hear she has raided you of all you possess. Six pounds odd." "Seven pounds four and sixpence," corrected Aymer. "I should like the correct sum printed in good plain figures on your list, Renata. Being my all, it is a superior present to more pretentious donations." "Six pounds four and sixpence, however," persisted Nevil. Aymer looked up quickly. "Did you count it?" Nevil nodded. "It must have dropped," said Aymer slowly. "I'll send it you with the interest, Renata." But he knew it had not been dropped. Mr. Aston began telling them of a deputation from the Friends of the Canine Race he had received that day, and no more was said on the other matter. CHAPTER VI