"What?"
"He means it for the best; he fears for me. I will tell you how it is with me when you come to-night. I truly desire to tell you—I—I need to tell you. Will you come to me?"
"On my honour, Lois."
"Then—if you please, will you leave me now? I must do my washing and mending—and——" she smiled, "if you only knew how desperately I need what money I may earn. My garments, Euan, are like to fall from me if these green cockspur thorns give way."
"But, Lois," I said, "I have brought you money!" And I fished from any hunting shirt a great, thick packet of those poor paper dollars, now in such contempt that scarce five hundred of them counted for a dozen good, hard shillings.
"What are you doing?" she said, so coldly that I ceased counting the little squares of currency and looked up at her surprised.
"I am sharing my pay with you," said I. "I have no silver—only these."
"I can not take—money!"
"What?"
"Did you suppose I could?"