"There is no such hurry, Mrs. Halliburton," he said, smiling. "I cannot give you a receipt here."
"You can send it to me," she said. "I would rather pay you than Mr. Dare."
She held out the notes to him. He felt in his pocket whether he had sufficient change, found he had, and handed it to her. "That is it, madam—four sovereigns. Thank you."
She took them hesitatingly, but did not close her hand. "Was there not some expense incurred when—when that man was put in?"
"Not for you to pay, Mrs. Halliburton," he pointedly returned. "I hope you are getting pretty well through your troubles?"
The tears came into her eyes, and she turned them away. Getting pretty well through her troubles! "Thank you for inquiring," she meekly said. "I shall, I believe, have the quarter's rent ready in March, when it falls due."
"Do not put yourself out of the way to pay it," he replied. "If it would be more convenient to you to let it go on to the half-year, it would be the same to me."
Her heart rose to the kindness. "Thank you, Mr. Ashley, thank you very much for your consideration; but I must pay as I go on, if I possibly can."
Patience stood at her gate, smiling as she recrossed the road. She had seen what had passed.
"Thee hast good news, I see. But thee wert in a hurry, to pay thy rent in the road."