Jeckie looked from one man to the other with surprised questioning eyes. "He's going to pay?" she suggested. Palethorpe pointed to a cheque which lay face downwards on his desk. "He's paid!" he answered. "Half an hour ago. There's the cheque. I'll tell you all about it in a few words. I served Albert with the writ myself yesterday afternoon. Albert had nothing to say; old George blustered, and said he'd see his solicitor. I said he could do nothing better. He came in first thing this morning, and saw Camberley; Camberley came on to see us. And, of course, he knew they hadn't a leg to stand on, so, as you'd given us full permission to settle on your behalf, he came to terms. And--there's the money!" Jeckie caught her breath, and looked at the cheque with a glance keen enough, as Overthwaite afterwards remarked, to go through it and the wood beneath it. It was with an obvious effort that she got out two words. "How much?" "Fifteen hundred pounds--and our costs," answered Palethorpe. "I hope you're satisfied?" Jeckie gave him a queer, shrewd, enigmatical look. "Aye, I'm satisfied!" she said in a low voice. "I should ha' made Albert Grice a rare good wife and George Grice a saving daughter-in-law, but--yes, I'm satisfied. And--I know well enough what I shall do with it--as George Grice'll find out! So--I'm worth fifteen hundred pound? That's one thousand five hundred! Very well! And--I'm much obliged to you." Palethorpe turned to his partner. "Write out a cheque for Miss Farnish for one thousand five hundred pounds," he said. "And she'll give us a receipt. Now Miss Farnish," he went on, as Overthwaite produced a cheque-book, "You'll want to bank this money, no doubt? If you like, I'll introduce you to the Old Bank." "Much obliged to you," answered Jeckie. "I have some money of my own in the Penny Bank, but of course, it's naught much. Yes, I'll go to the Old Bank, if you please, Mr. Palethorpe. And--don't I owe you something?" "Nothing!" answered Palethorpe, with a smile. "We made Grice pay your costs--every penny." "I hope you charged him plenty," said Jeckie. Palethorpe laughed, and presently handing her the cheque, took her off to the Old Bank and introduced her to its manager. Half an hour later, Jeckie, with a virgin cheque-book in her hand, burst in upon Rushie. "There now, Rushie!" she said, "didn't I tell you there'd happen be better times i' store for us. You can drop that sewing--we've done with it. We'll hand it over to Mrs. Thompson; she'll finish it and be glad o' the job an' all. But--we've done wi' that." Rushie dropped her needle into the folds of the linen and stared. "Whatever's happened?" she demanded. "You're all red, like!"