She looked so unembarrassed that for a moment he felt puzzled.
"I knew Mrs. Aubrey before her marriage." He bent forward to watch the effect of his words, but if she really knew or suspected aught of the past there was not the slightest intimation of it. Putting back her hair, she looked up and answered—
"That should increase your willingness to aid her in her misfortunes."
"Hold out your hand; fifty, one hundred, a hundred and fifty, two hundred. There, will that do?"
"Thank you! thank you. You will not need it soon, I hope?"
"Not until you are ready to pay me."
"Dr. Arnold, you have given me a great deal of pleasure—more than I can express. I——"
"Don't try to express it, Queen. You have given me infinitely more, I assure you."
Her splendid eyes were lifted toward him, and with some sudden impulse she touched her lips to the hand he had placed on her shoulder. Something like a tremor crossed the doctor's habitually stern mouth as he looked at the marvellous beauty of the girl's countenance, and he kissed her slender fingers as reverently as though he touched something consecrated.
"Irene, shall I take you home in my buggy?"