Her discomposed manner brought him to the recollection of what he was doing; and, making abundant apologies, 'I protest,' he cried, 'I don't know how it happened that I should meddle with your papers, for I meant only to take up a book! But I suppose it was because I could not find one.' Ellis, in much confusion, re-folded the notes, and put them away. 'I am quite ashamed to have done such a thing, I assure you,' he continued, 'though I am happy enough at the accident, too; for I thought you very poor, and I could hardly sleep, sometimes, for fretting about it. But I see, now, you are better off than I imagined; for there are ten of those ten pound bank-notes, if I have not miscounted; and your bills don't amount to more than two or three of them.' Ellis, utterly confounded, retreated to the window. Miss Matson, who, with the widest stare, had looked first at the bank-notes, and next at the embarrassed Ellis, began now to offer the most obsequious excuses for her importunity; declaring that she should never have thought of so rudely hurrying such a young lady as Miss Ellis, but that the other creditors, who were really in but indifferent circumstances, were so much in want of their money, that she had not been able to quiet them. And then, begging that Miss Ellis would take her own time, she went, courtesying, down stairs. 'So you have got all this money, and would not own it?' said Mr Giles, when she was gone. 'That's odd! very odd, I confess! I can't well understand it; but I hope, my pretty lady, you won't turn out a rogue? I beg you won't do that; for it would vex me prodigiously.' Ellis, dropping upon a chair, ejaculated, with a heavy sigh, 'What step must I take!' 'What?--why pay them all, to be sure! What do other people do, when they have got debts, and got money? I shall go and tell them to come to you directly, every one of them.' Ellis, starting, supplicated his forbearance. 'And why?--why?' cried he, looking a little angry: 'Do you really want to hide up all that money, and make those poor good people, who have served you at their own cost, believe that you have not gotten any?' She assured him that the money was simply a deposit left in her hands. This intelligence overset and disappointed him. He returned to his chair, and drawing it near the fire, gave himself up to considering what could be done; ejaculating from time to time, 'That's bad!--that's very bad!--being really so poor is but melancholy!--I am sorry for her, poor pretty thing!--very sorry!--But still, taking up goods one can't pay for?--Who has a right to do that?--How are trades-people to live by selling their wares gratis?--Will that feed their little ones?'