"Go on please," said Dolly, as he paused.
"And what is your husband's, I was going to say," he proceeded, spite of Mr. Swanland's look of entreaty, "is his creditors'."
"Then you mean to have my money?" she said, "you mean to take the only thing left to us?"
"There may be a settlement you know," observed Mr. Swanland in a soothing voice.
"There is not, I feel there is not," she interrupted.
"And in any case," continued Mr. Swanland, "it is not we who take, but the law; it is not we who have, but the creditors. We must hope for the best, however, Mrs. Mortomley. No one will be more truly rejoiced than I to know this money is secured to you."
She seemed as if she had not heard his sentence, but sat for a minute like one stunned. Then she said bitterly,
"A 'Well Wisher' sent me two pounds four the other day, and I forwarded the amount to the London Hospital. It seems to me I may yet have reason to repent of my haste at my leisure."
In an airy manner Mr. Swanland, apparently treating her words as a mere jest, remarked, "I am not quite sure, Mrs. Mortomley, that in my capacity as trustee the two pounds four you mention ought not to have been handed over to me."