Opening the door of a small sitting-room, apparently his own, he invited her to a seat near the fire. As she took it, Jane untied the crape strings of her bonnet and threw back her heavy veil. She was as white as a sheet, and felt choking. "I fear you are ill," Mr. Ashley remarked. "Can I get you anything?" "I shall be better in a minute, thank you," she panted. "Perhaps you do not know me, sir. I live in your house, a little lower down. I am Mrs. Halliburton." "Oh, I beg your pardon, madam; I did not remember you at first. I have seen you in passing." His manner was perfectly kind and open. Not in the least like that of a landlord who had just put a distress into his tenant's house. "I have come here to beseech your mercy," she began in agitation. "I have not the rent now, but if you will consent to wait until the middle of February, it will be ready. Oh, Mr. Ashley, do not oppress me for it! Think of my situation." "I never oppressed any one in my life," was the quiet rejoinder of Mr. Ashley, spoken, however, in a somewhat surprised tone. "Sir, it is oppression. I beg your pardon for saying so. I promise that the rent shall be paid to you in a few weeks: to force my furniture from me now, is oppression." "I do not understand you," returned Mr. Ashley. "To sell my furniture under the distress will be utter ruin to me and my children," she continued. "We have no resource, no home; we shall have to lie in the streets, or die. Oh, sir, do not take it!" "But you are agitating yourself unnecessarily, Mrs. Halliburton. I have no intention of taking your furniture." "No intention, sir!" she echoed. "You have put in a distress." "Put in a what?" cried he, in unbounded surprise. "A distress. The man has been in since yesterday morning." Mr. Ashley looked at her a few moments in silence. "Did the man tell you where he came from?" "It was Mr. Dare who put him in--acting for you. I went to Mr. Dare, and he kept me waiting nearly five hours in his outer office before he would see me. When he did see me, he declined to hear me. All he would say was, that I must pay the rent or he should take the furniture: acting for Mr. Ashley." A strangely severe expression darkened Mr. Ashley's face. "First of all, my dear lady, let me assure you that I knew nothing of this, or it should never have been done. I am surprised at Mr. Dare." Could she fail to trust that open countenance--that benevolent eye? Her hopes rose high within her. "Sir, will you withdraw the man, and give me time?" "I will."