“Oh, all right: I’m in no hurry,” he replied; and Hazel’s heart gave a leap of relief, but only to sink down heavily the next moment, as he continued—“I always give one morning a year to this job, so get the money and a pen and ink, and I’ll soon run through it with you.”
“You misunderstood me, Mr Piper,” faltered Hazel, whose cheeks began to burn before turning pale with shame. “I have made up the account but I have not the money ready.”
“Couldn’t have made out the account properly without the money counted out ready,” he said triumphantly.
“I checked it by the sums I had put down each week, Mr Piper,” said Hazel.
“To be sure. Well, it won’t take us long to count the money out.”
“But I have not the money by me,” said Hazel desperately, for she could make no excuse at the moment.
“Oh!” said Mr Piper slowly, as he made a curious rasping noise by rubbing a rough finger upon his closely-shaven cheek: “have not got the money by you.”
“No; not at present,” faltered Hazel; and once more the tell-tale blush came flushing to her cheeks.
“Oh!” said Mr Piper again; and his interjection was as long as a ten-syllable word.
“I will send or bring it up to you in a few days.”