"You can imagine how perplexed I felt, and naturally I began to wonder what kind friend had commissioned Mr. Graythorne to send me so much money. I said to myself: 'There is not a soul on the American continent that I know.' Then I remembered that you were here. You will forgive me if I wrong you, but I could think, and can think, of no one else. The money was my salvation. It not only saved me from despair, but from all that follows despair, and now that God has prospered me I want to pay it back. May I give it to you?"
Her eyes were full almost to overflowing by this time, but she resolutely beat back her emotion.
"Yes, I will take it back," she answered, slowly. "I am glad it served you in the hour of need."
"You meant it as a loan, I know," he said, with a smile.
"That was as God should will," she answered, with her eyes upon the floor. "I heard in Nice of your misfortune. I knew from what you told me that you had risked your all, and I wondered if I could help you without wounding you. As soon as I reached home I commissioned Mr. Graythorne to make inquiries about your late father's property in Reboth. It seemed certain that you would be well off some day, and so I advanced five thousand dollars on account; it was but a small return for all you had done for me."
"But I might not have won the suit, might not have discovered who had befriended me."
"I should still have been in your debt," she replied, with a smile. "You saved my life, you know," and she rose and touched the bell.
He rose also, and moved towards the door.
"No, no," she said, "you must not go, I have rung for tea. I know the English habit, and you must be thirsty after so much talking," and she laughed merrily.
"Thank you," he said. "I shall be glad of a cup of tea," and he sat down again.