"You have done me an incalculable service," I remarked, "and in return I will tell you something." "What is that?" she asked. "From to-night I shall not be alone in the house." "Oh! how thankful I am!" she exclaimed; then instantly added, "Here is my aunt." I rose as Miss Blake entered, and bowed. "Oh! it is you, is it?" said the lady. "The girl told me some one was waiting." Hot and swift ran the colour to my adored one's cheeks. "Aunt," she observed, "I think you forget this gentleman comes from Mr. Craven." "Oh, no! my dear, I don't forget Mr. Craven, or his clerks either," responded Miss Blake, as, still cloaked and bonneted, she tore open Mr. Craven's envelope. "I am to take back an answer, I think," said I. "You are, I see," she answered. "He's getting mighty particular, is William Craven. I suppose he thinks I am going to cheat him out of his paltry ten pounds. Ten pounds, indeed! and what is that, I should like to know, to us in our present straits! Why, I had more than twice ten yesterday from a man on whom we have no claim--none whatever--who, without asking, offered it in our need." "Aunt," said Miss Elmsdale, warningly. "If you will kindly give me your acknowledgment, Miss Blake, I should like to be getting back to Buckingham Street," I said. "Mr. Craven will wonder at my absence." "Not a bit of it," retorted Miss Blake. "You and Mr. Craven understand each other, or I am very much mistaken; but here is the receipt, and good day to you." I should have merely bowed my farewell, but that Miss Elmsdale stood up valiantly. "Good-bye, Mr. Patterson," she said, holding out her dainty hand, and letting it lie in mine while she spoke. "I am very much obliged to you. I can never forget what you have done and dared in our interests." And I went out of the room, and descended the stairs, and opened the front door, she looking graciously over the balusters the while, happy, ay, and more than happy. What would I not have done and dared at that moment for Helena Elmsdale? Ah! ye lovers, answer! 12. HELP "There has been a gentleman to look at the house, sir, this afternoon," said Mrs. Stott to me, when, wet and tired, I arrived, a few evenings after my interview with Miss Elmsdale, at River Hall. "To look at the house!" I repeated. "Why, it is not to let." "I know that, sir, but he brought an order from Mr. Craven's office to allow him to see over the place, and to show him all about. For a widow lady from the country, he said he wanted it. A very nice gentleman, sir; only he did ask a lot of questions, surely--" "What sort of questions?" I inquired. "Oh! as to why the tenants did not stop here, and if I thought there was anything queer about the place; and he asked how you liked it, and how long you were going to stay; and if you had ever seen aught strange in the house.