Hilliard stirred himself, and tried to laugh. "As it turned out, you couldn't have done better. Well, there's an end of it. Come." He walked on, and Eve kept closely beside him, looking up into his face. "I am sure he will pay the money back," she said presently. "Hang the money!" Then he stood still. "How is he to pay it back? I mean, how is he to communicate with you?" "I gave him my address at Dudley." Again Hilliard moved on. "Why should it annoy you?" Eve asked. "If ever he writes to me, I shall let you know at once: you shall see the letter. It is quite certain that he _will_ pay his debt; and I shall be very glad when he does." "What explanation did you give him?" "The true one. I said I had borrowed from a friend. He was in despair, and couldn't refuse what I offered." "We'll talk no more of it. It was right to tell me. I'm glad now it's all over. Look at the moon rising--harvest moon, isn't it?" Eve turned aside again, and leaned on the parapet. He, lingering apart for a moment, at length drew nearer. Of her own accord she put her hands in his. "In future," she said, "you shall know everything I do. You can trust me: there will be no more secrets." "Yet you are afraid----" "It's for your sake. You must be free for the next year or two. I shall be glad to get to work again. I am well and strong and cheerful." Her eyes drew him with the temptation he had ever yet resisted. Eve did not refuse her lips. "You must write to Patty," she said, when they were at the place of parting. "I shall have her new address in a day or two." "Yes, I will write to her." CHAPTER XVIII By the end of November Hilliard was well at work in the office of Messrs. Birching, encouraged by his progress and looking forward as hopefully as a not very sanguine temperament would allow. He lived penuriously, and toiled at professional study night as well as day. Now and then he passed an evening with Robert Narramore, who had moved to cozy bachelor quarters a little distance out of town, in the Halesowen direction. Once a week, generally on Saturday, he saw Eve. Other society he had none, nor greatly desired any.