“There is neither entrance nor exit, but by my study door,” Mr. Buchanan said, somewhat displeased. “Well, that is a good thing. I hope you always make sure when you receive your penitents that there is nobody there.” The minister made no reply. He thought her a very disagreeable, very presuming and impertinent woman; but he placed a chair for her with all the patience he could muster. He had a faint feeling as if she had lodged an arrow somewhere in him, and that he felt it quivering, but did not inquire into his sensations. The first thing seemed to be to get rid of her as quickly as he could. “Now we can talk at last,” she said, sinking down into the arm-chair, stiff and straight as it was--for the luxury of modern days had scarcely yet begun and certainly had not come as far as St. Rule’s--which Mrs. Buchanan generally occupied when she came upstairs to talk over their “whens and hows” with her husband. “It is very serious indeed, and I am very anxious to know if you can throw any light upon it. Mr. Morrison, the man of business, tells me that old Mr. Anderson had lent a great deal of money to various people, and that it proved quite impossible to get it back. Was that really the case? or is this said merely to cover over some defalcations--some----” “Morrison,” cried the minister, almost angrily, “is as honourable a man as lives; there have been no defalcations, at least so far as he is concerned.” “It is very satisfactory to hear that,” said Mrs. Mowbray, “because of course we are altogether in his hands; otherwise I should have got my English solicitor to come down and look into matters. But you know one always thinks it must be the lawyer’s fault--and then so many men go wrong that have a very good reputation.” Mr. Buchanan relieved his heart with a long painful breath. He said: “It is true; there are such men: but Morrison is not one of them.” “Well, that’s satisfactory at least to hear,” she said doubtfully, “but tell me about the other thing. Is it true that our old uncle was so foolish, so mad--I really don’t know any word sufficiently severe to use--so unjust to us as to give away his money on all hands, and lend to so many people without a scrap of acknowledgment, without so much as an I.O.U., so that the money never could be recovered; is it possible this can be true?” Mr. Buchanan was obliged to clear his throat several times before he could speak. “Mr. Anderson,” he said, “was one of the men who are so highly commended in Scripture, though it is perhaps contrary to modern ideas. The merciful man is merciful and lendeth. He was a providence to many troubled persons. I had heard----” “But, Mr. Buchanan,” cried the lady, raising herself up in her chair, “you cannot think that’s right; you cannot imagine it is justifiable. Think of his heirs.”