"Oh! Then you did get my letter?"
"Yes, I did. I meant to answer it when I could tell you what I was going to do, and then I found that Birmingham was to be my headquarters, so I thought I would come and answer it by word of mouth."
"What are you doing in Birmingham?"
"I'm an agent for a large insurance company. I think I'm very fortunate to get anything to do so soon—it's a pretty good appointment, too. I hope each quarter to be able to send a small instalment to Rosthwaite, Miss Douglas."
"It is very good of you," she answered; "but I do hope you are not stinting yourself by doing so. It troubles me very much when I think that you are."
He gave her a pleased, grateful look as she said this.
"Now, Miss Douglas, you are never to trouble about me again. I have given up smoking, and one or two little things that I am all the better without, but, beyond that, I assure you I am not straitened in any way. How could I take a nice holiday like this, if I were short of money?"
"I'm afraid it is not a very pleasant place for you to come to for a holiday," she said, laughing.
"It doesn't quite come up to our last walk together."
"Where was that? Oh, I remember. Up to Seatoller and Honister. How far away it all seems!"