"There is but one way," he said.
"Then it is a way I shall never take!" she said, her eyes flashing on him. "I would not set a wrong right by committing a greater wrong. I would give you Wyndham to-morrow rather than do that."
"But that would be impossible," he said. "I could not in honour accept such a gift from you."
"I should not have thought considerations of honour would have troubled you, Guy," said Aldyth, unable to resist the retort.
But she was ashamed of it when it had passed her lips, and feeling that there was danger in her growing excitement, she turned to quit the room. Ere she could reach the door, it was opened by a servant, evidently looking for her. On the salver in his hand lay a telegram.
"For you, Miss Lorraine," he said. "A man has ridden from Woodham with it."
Aldyth passed into the hall as she tore the envelope open. The telegram was from Eastbourne, and the sender was Gladys. "We are in dreadful trouble; come to us," was all it said.
[CHAPTER XXIII.]
LOSSES AND GAINS.
IT was shocking and terrible news Mrs. Stanton had received by telegram from Melbourne earlier in that day. The firm of Stanton Bros. had come to utter bankruptcy, such as reduced to poverty every one connected with the firm, and brought unlooked-for destitution upon many an innocent sufferer. But this was not the whole of the calamity.