Austin stood silent a moment, with a flush in his face, and then gravely met her gaze.
"I almost think I could let you lend me forty pounds. With that I shall have enough in the meanwhile. You will not think me ungracious if I say that just now I am especially sorry I have not more money of my own?"
The little lady smiled at him. "Oh, I understand. That is what made me almost afraid. It cannot be nice to borrow from a woman. Still, I think you could, if it was necessary, do even harder things."
"I shall probably have to," said Austin, a trifle drily. "I don't mind admitting that what you have suggested is a great relief to me."
"You would naturally sooner let me lend it you than Mr. Brown?"
"Why should you suppose that?" and the flush crept back into Austin's face.
Mrs. Hatherly smiled again. "Ah," she said, "I am an old woman, and have my fancies, but they are right now and then. I will send you a cheque to-morrow, and, Mr. Austin, I should like you to think of me as one of your friends. Do you know that I told Muriel half an hour ago you would go?"
Austin made her a little grave inclination, though there was a smile in his eyes.
"I am not sure that any of my other friends has so much confidence in me, madam," he said. "After all, it is another responsibility, and I shall have to do what I can."
The little lady smiled at him as she turned away. "Well," she said quietly, "I think that will be a good deal."