"Have you thought of what light this puts me in at home? Have you thought how I should be regarded in the only world I have ever known? Why, there are a thousand people back in Blakeville who know me, and even if I were never to meet one of them again--Jim, it mustn't be! You must not destroy my self-respect for ever. Have you spent any of that money?" "Well, no," he reluctantly replied. "I have plenty of money besides that." "Good!" said she with a gasp of relief. "Write father that, as you will be unable to carry out your projects, you are sending him the money to take up that note." Wallingford was silent a long time. Wonderful the influence this girl had over him. He was amazed at himself. "I can't remember when I ever gave up any money," he finally said, with an attempt at lightness; "but, Fannie, I think I'll do it just this once--for you--as a wedding present." "You'll do it right away, won't you?" "Right this minute." He walked over and stooped down to kiss her. She held up her lips submissively, but they were cold, and there was no answering pressure in them. Silently he took his hat and started down-stairs. "By the way," he said, turning at the door, "I'm going to make your father a present of that bay team." He scarcely understood himself as he dictated to the public stenographer a letter to Jonas Bubble, so far different from the one he had planned to write. It was not like him to do this utterly foolish thing, and yet, somehow, he felt that he could not do otherwise. When he came back up-stairs again, the letter written and a check inclosed in it and the whole mailed, he found her in the same chair, but now she was crying. He approached her hesitantly and stood looking down at her for a long, long time. It was, perhaps, but one minute, but it seemed much longer. Now was the supreme test, the moment that should influence all their future lives, and he dreaded to dissolve that uncertainty. He knelt beside her and put his arm about her. Still crying, she turned to him, threw both arms around his neck and buried her head on his shoulder--and as she cried she pressed him more tightly to her! CHAPTER XXIV CASTING ABOUT FOR A STRAIGHT BUSINESS, PATENT MEDICINE PROVIDES THE ANSWER