An hour passed in silence. The train began to slacken speed as we neared the station next before Beech Hill. She looked up and said:
“Would you really rather I didn’t come with you?”
I had passed a wretched hour. This girl was evidently bent on blasting my character.
“Madam,” I said, “if you’ll get out at this station, I’ll give you a five-pound note.”
“What? I heard you never gave away a farthing! They said no one could get a penny out of you.”
“It is true that I disapprove of indiscriminate charity; but, under the circumstances, I——”
“Think I am a deserving object? Well, I’ll take it.”
With a sigh of relief, I took a note from my pocket-book, and gave it her.
“I’ll pay it back soon,” she said.
“Never let me see your face again.”