"You are rich; you are your own mistress; you have a right to do as you please, my dear young lady, whatever the world may say," said Mr Jabez, harping upon her words once more. "It is easily settled. Give it him." "No," said Miss Carr, speaking with animation, "it is not easy. You forget what I say. This inventor is a gentleman." "And would be too proud to take the money?" said Mr Jabez quickly. "Yes," said Miss Carr. "He would not stoop to be under such an obligation. He would feel insulted--that he was lowering himself. I wish to help him," she said excitedly. "I would do anything to help him; but my hands are tied." "Humph!" ejaculated Mr Jabez softly; "and you want me to help you?" "Yes, oh yes! And you will?" cried Miss Carr. "Of course I will, my dear young lady," said the old man; "but this requires thought. Would you excuse me if I took just one little pinch?" "Oh, my dear Mr Rowle," cried Miss Carr, "pray do not use ceremony here. I asked you to come to me as a friend. Pray consider that you are one." "Hah!" sighed Mr Jabez. "Now I can get on. Well, my dear young lady, surely we can find a way. In the first place, who is the gentleman?" Miss Carr looked at me. "Mr Hallett," I said, coming to her help. "What? Our Mr Hallett?" said Mr Jabez. "Yes, Mr Rowle." "Hum! Well, I'm not surprised," he said. "He certainly always did seem to be a gentleman, and I was very sorry that he left our place. So he is working on a great invention, eh? Well, he is just the man who would. Then, the first thing is, how is it to be done?" "Antony Grace thinks, Mr Rowle, that as you have the reputation of being a wealthy man--" "Wealthy! why I lost five hundred pounds slap the other day by--Dear me! Bless my soul! Oh, tut--tut--tut! What an ass I am!" he muttered, taking refuge in a tremendous pinch of snuff, half of which powdered his white waistcoat and cravat. "I am very sorry to hear that," said Miss Carr quietly. "Oh, it was nothing. Pray go on, my dear young lady." "Antony Grace thought that you might seek him out, and get into his confidence a little, and at last, after a show of interest in his work, ask him to let you become a sharer in the affair, on condition of your finding the necessary funds." "Of your money?" said the old man, with a slight show of suspicion. "Of course, Mr Rowle. Then, if he would consent, which he might do, thinking that he was favouring you, the matter would be settled." "To be sure. Of course," said Mr Jabez thoughtfully. "And how far would you go, my dear young lady--forty or fifty pounds?" "As far as was necessary, Mr Rowle. As many hundreds as he required." Mr Jabez tapped his box, and sat thinking, gazing wonderingly and full of admiration at the animated countenance before him, as he softly bowed his head up and down. "And you will do this for me, Mr Rowle?" she said. "If you will trust me, Miss Carr, I will be your steward in this matter," he said quietly.