Then, turning to Ellis, who, in deep disturbance at these commentaries, had not spirits to speak; 'But why,' he cried, 'since you have gotten this money, should not you pay these poor people with it, rather than let it lie dead by your side? for as to the money's not being yours,--theirs is not yours, neither.' 'Should I raise myself, Sir, in your good opinion, by contracting a new debt to pay an old one?' 'If you contract it with a friend to pay a stranger, Yes.--And these notes, I suppose, of course, belong to a friend?' 'Not to ... an enemy, certainly!--' she answered, much embarrassed; 'but is that a reason that I should betray a trust?' 'What becomes of the trust of these poor people, then, that don't know you, and that you don't know? Don't you betray that? Do you think that they would have let you take their goods, if they had not expected your payment? 'Oh heaven, Mr Arbe!' cried Ellis, 'How you probe--perplex--entangle me!' 'Don't vex, don't vex!' said he, kindly, 'for that will fret me prodigiously. Only, another time, when you are in want, borrow from the rich, and not from the poor; for they are in want themselves. This friend of yours is rich, I take for granted?' 'I ... I believe so!' 'Well, then, which is most equitable, to take openly from a rich friend, and say, "I thank you;" or to take, underhand, from a hardworking stranger, whom you scorn to own yourself obliged to, though you don't scruple to harass and plunder? Which, I say, is most equitable?' Ellis shuddered, hesitated, and then said, 'The alternative, thus stated, admits of no contest! I must pay my debts--and extricate myself from the consequences as I can!' 'Why then you are as good as you are pretty!' cried he, delighted: 'Very good, and very pretty, indeed! And so I thought you at first! And so I shall think you to the end!' He then hurried away, to give her no time to retract; nodding and talking to himself in her praise, with abundant complacency; and saying, as he passed through the shop, 'Miss Matson, you'll be all of you paid to-morrow morning at farthest. So be sure bid all the good people come; for the lady is a person of great honour, as well as prettiness; and there's money enough for every one of you,--and more, too.' CHAPTER XXXV Ellis remained in the deepest disturbance at the engagement into which she had entered. O cruel necessity! cruel, imperious necessity! she cried, to what a resource dost thou drive me! How unjust, how improper, how perilous!--Ah! rather let me cast myself upon Lady Aurora--Yet, angel as she is, can Lady Aurora act for herself? And Lord Melbury, guileless, like his nature, as may now be his intentions, what protection can he afford me that calumny may not sully? Alas! how may I attain that self-dependence which alone, at this critical period, suits my forlorn condition?