“Oh!” she started and shivered. “I’m ashamed to say. And now—we are going away, and the bills have to be paid. I’m a new customer, and they keep sending them in. And the house books! They have run on. Jacky gave me some money. I meant to pay them, honestly I did, Evelyn, but somehow the money frittered away till there wasn’t enough left. I paid some—but there are others left. Jacky would hate it, if we left the parish in debt.”
“How much?” I repeated, and she flushed to the roots of her hair.
“Over—a hundred! Nearer—two, I’m afraid, Evelyn!”
It was more than I had expected. I had to make fresh calculations, and revise several plans. Subconsciously, I had known that the trouble was monetary, and had made a special study of my pass book before leaving the flat.
“I can let you have a hundred at once, and settle the rest of the bills for you next month, if that will do.”
She looked at me with tear-filled eyes.
“Do you think I deserve it?”
“I’m not sure that you do, but Mr Merrivale does! He shan’t have any new worry just now, if I can prevent it. You are sure you have told me everything, Delphine? That is all!”
“I’ll show you the bills. I knew you would help. You were the only person I could bear to ask; but you did not wait to be asked. I do love you, Evelyn, and I shall never forget! You understand, don’t you, that it is only a loan? I shall pay you back!”
“I know you will, when you can. It’s a comfort that you need not hurry. I can wait for years.”