“I help him?” I said.
She did not answer for a few moments, for a struggle was going on within her breast, but she spoke at last. Her pride and feminine shrinking had given way before the love that she had been striving these many months to crush, but which was sweeping all before it now.
“Antony,” she said softly, “I can trust to you, I know; and I feel that whatever I help you in will be for the best. You shall help your friend Mr Hallett. My purse shall be open to you, and you shall find the means to enable him to carry his project to success.”
“Oh, Miss Carr!” I cried; and in my new delight I caught and kissed her hand.
She laid one upon my shoulder, but her head was averted still, and then she motioned me to resume my seat.
“Does that satisfy you, Antony?” she said.
“Yes—no,” I cried, getting up and walking up and down the room. “He would not take the money; he would be a great deal too proud.”
“Would not take the money, Antony? Why?”
“Because he would know that it came from you.”
“And knowing that the money came from me, Antony, would he not take it?”