"Well, the fact is, we've two hundred pounds fallen in. Been out on a good mortgage at five per cent, and just now I can't place it anywhere at more than four, and that won't do, you know, will it?" "Of course it would not be so advantageous." "No, to be sure not, so we thought we'd ask you to take it at five. Money's valuable out there. You could easily send us the dividend once a-year--ten pounds, you know, by credit note, and it would be useful to you, and doing your old friends a good turn. I hate to see money lying idle." Mrs Hallam glanced across the room to see that little Mrs Thickens was watching them anxiously, and she felt the tears rise in her eyes as she darted a grateful look back, before turning to dry, drab-looking Thickens, who now and then put his hand up to his ear, as if expecting to find a pen there. "It is very good and very generous of you," she said huskily, "and I can never be grateful enough for all this kindness. Believe me, I shall never forget it." "That's right. I shall have it all arranged, so that you can draw at the Colonial Bank." "No, no," cried Mrs Hallam with energy, "it is impossible. Besides, I have a sufficiency for our wants, ample for the present--the remains of my little property. Mr Bayle has managed it so well for me; my furniture brought in a nice little sum, and--" "Your what?" said Thickens in a puzzled tone. "My property. You remember what I had when--" "When you were married? Why, my dear madam, you don't think any of that was left?" "Mr Thickens!" "Ah, I see," he cried with a good-humoured smile, for delicacy was not the forte of the bank clerk of the little country town. "Mr Bayle patched up that story. Why, my dear madam, when the crash came you hadn't a halfpenny. Here, quick, my dear! Mrs Hallam has turned faint!" "No, it is nothing," she cried hastily. "I am better now, Mr Thickens. Go back to our friends, Julie--to grandma. It is past." "I--I'm afraid I've spoken too plainly," said Thickens apologetically, as soon as they were alone once more. "I wish I'd held my tongue." "I am very glad that you spoke, Mr Thickens," said Mrs Hallam in a low voice. "It was better that I should know." "Then you will let me lend you that money?" eagerly. "No. It is impossible. I am deeper in obligations than I thought. Pray spare me by not saying more." "I want to do everything you wish," said Thickens uneasily. "Then say no word about what you have told me to any one." "Pooh! Mrs Hallam, as if I should. Money matters are always sacred with me. That comes of Mr Bayle banking in town. If he had trusted me with his money matters, I should never have spoken like this." VOLUME THREE, CHAPTER ELEVEN. MILLICENT HALLAM LEARNS A LITTLE MORE OF THE TRUTH.