“I don't know what I would do without your help and advice!” said Virginia, when he had finished. He moved his hand in disparagement of this. “Have I made it quite plain to you?” he asked, with grave kindness. “Yes, I think so, but we haven't settled yet how I am to send Stephen to school, even to Dr. Long's academy.” “We might very easily induce Mr. Stark to advance more money!” he ventured tentatively, but Virginia shook her head. “No, I am afraid of debt; and it is not only my own means, it is Stephen's start in life that would be involved. I must exercise a greater economy.” “My dear Mrs. Landray, that is quite out of the question, unless you deny yourself in ways I cannot even bear to think of!” Virginia did not seem to hear him, and the tone that had unconsciously crept into his voice, escaped her notice. He could only guess at the needless self-denials she might practice, inspired by her love and sense of duty! She was too fine for that sort of thing; she had always seemed to him to adorn the easy circumstances for which the Landrays had been famous. It had not been great wealth, perhaps, but in that new country it had been riches; since relatively, little money purchased so much. “If you will allow me”—he hesitated, and then continued—“to advance what money you need, it will give me the greatest pleasure.” “You are very kind,” she said; it was plain she was rather surprised at the offer. “I don't mean that you are to sign any more notes,” he hastily explained; “but it hurts me to think that you may be limited in any way. It can stand as a personal debt that some day you will repay when the other matters have been settled. I assure you it will give me great pleasure to aid you,” he finished warmly, but Virginia turned to him with the question: “Mr. Benson, please tell me one thing, when you went West for me, who bore that expense? Did you?” “Yes, Mrs. Landray;” but the admission was made with reluctance. “It never occurred to me until this moment that that was possible! It has not been returned to you?” “But it has not been my wish that it should be,” he rejoined quickly.— “I wish you had told me of this before!” she continued a little reproachfully. “Why?” he asked. “It might have been easier.” “Nonsense, Mrs. Landray! To tell you the truth I had forgotten all about it.” “But when the estate was settled, should it not have gone in with the other claims?” “It's not a debt in that sense; please don't place me in the position of a creditor!” Virginia wished to do him full justice, yet she rather resented that she had not known of this before. His silence was a mistaken kindness; for had he spoken sooner, Anna would have met her share of this debt. With the feeling she had of the melting away of the fortune, this even was a matter of some moment. Benson, watching her narrowly, conjectured much of what was passing in her mind.