"I beg your pardon if I've said the wrong thing. I meant no harm," he apologized warmly. "But I get left-handed and tongue-tied, I guess, when it comes to being civilized--where there's a lady in the case. It must have been I said it the wrong way, for, I _do_ know the thing itself would be right. You want to go. You've lost your money. And I expect your bank wouldn't send it on a telegram. They mostly won't. That means waiting days, perhaps. So I thought----" "It would mean waiting," she broke into his pause. "My bank is a long way off. You're very kind, and I _will_ borrow the money, if it won't inconvenience you, on condition that--you let me give you security." "That would hurt my feelings badly," said he; "but I'd rather you'd do it than not take the money, because your convenience is a heap more important than my feelings." "If I go I can get money in a few days, and wire it back to you here," Angela reflected aloud, at a loss how to treat the situation when it became a question of hurting Mr. Hilliard's feelings. Nick's face fell. "I--unless you give me your orders--I don't want to stay here very long," said he. "I don't care when I get the money back." "Why, you've only just arrived, haven't you?" "Ye-es. But I feel my homesickness coming on again. I shouldn't wonder if I'll always be sort of restless, now, away from the West. It's my country--anyhow, the country of my heart." Angela came near saying, "So it is mine." But that might have necessitated explanations. "Well, you must take the security, I'm afraid," she said, "or I can't take the loan. As I told you, I left most of my things in New York, to be sent on when I settle down. Still, there's _one_ thing, which I couldn't pawn, or leave with hotel people. But I wouldn't mind giving it to you. It's a diamond frame for a miniature I always carry with me. I could take the miniature out." Nick stared hard at the carpet again. He was afraid to let her see the look on his face. "It's her dead husband's picture," he thought. "She must have loved him, if she always carries his portrait around." Aloud he said, "Very well, if you won't do my way, I'll have to do yours." "I'll give you the address of my bank; and I must have your address," Angela went on. "Then, if you should change your mind and stay here----" "I'm going to stay just long enough to get your bag," he replied. She laughed. "That may be forever." "I reckon it will be some hours at longest." "You must be a wonderful detective!" "There's more of the bulldog than the detective in me. But it will go hard if we don't find that bag." "Thank you again. We shall see!" she said. "Anyway, as you're to be my banker I can tell the hotel clerk I shan't need to keep people in bathrooms, waiting for my suite, after to-night." "Oh, was it you?" exclaimed Nick. "The fellow was telling me a lady wanted to stay----" "Then it's _you_ they've stuffed into a laundry!"