'Yes, that would do; I'm sure that would carry me over. Can you get it for me, my child?'
'Yes, and more. I will try to get you the whole amount. Wait for me here twenty minutes or half an hour.'
George Wentworth was very much surprised when he saw Edith Longworth enter his office. It had been many months since she was there before, and he cordially held out his hand to the girl.
'Mr. Wentworth,' she began at once, 'have you any of the money the mica mine has brought you?'
'Yes. I invested the first year's proceeds, but, since I got the last amount, things have been so shaky in the City that it is still at the bank.'
'Will you lend me—can you lend me five thousand pounds of it?'
'Of, course I can, and will; and very glad I am to get the chance of doing so.'
'Then, please write me out a cheque for it at once, and whatever papers you want as security, make them out, and I will see that you are secured.'
'Look here, Miss Longworth,' said the young man, placing his hands on his hips and gazing at her, 'do you mean to insult me? Do you not know that the reason I am able to write out a cheque for five thousand pounds, that will be honoured, is entirely because you trusted your money to me and Kenyon without security? Do you think I want security? Take back the word, Miss Longworth.'
'I will—I will,' she said; 'but I am in a great hurry. Please write me out the cheque, for I must have it before the bank closes.'