“And that is to obtain a loan of fifty pounds on the security of our mother’s jewellery (which is good, but old-fashioned), and the silver tea and coffee service given us by Uncle Henry on our twenty-first birthday.”
“O Mattie, what a desecration!” exclaimed Miss Jane, her underlip beginning to quiver as it always did when she was much moved. “Desecration! I fail to understand you, sister.”
“In having to pawn dear mamma’s jewels.”
“No such idea entered my mind. What I said was, that we should endeavour to obtain a loan on them in conjunction with the service. It seemed to me that Mr. Daykin, the banker, who has known us ever since we came to St. Oswyth’s, would perhaps not object to advance the sum I have named on my frankly explaining to him the purpose for which we require it.”
“That of course would make all the difference. And certainly Mr. Daykin has always treated us very nicely; besides which, he looks the personification of benevolence.”
“So did that elderly man who called at Vale View last year with a forged letter of introduction and obtained twenty pounds from us, and yet turned out to be nothing but a common impostor. I merely recall the fact as a proof that it is not safe to rely upon looks alone as an index of character. But that has nothing to do with Mr. Daykin, whom I believe to be a thoroughly good and kind-hearted man.”
“Still, it will not be a pleasant errand on which to go to him.”
“That cannot be helped. In this life duty and inclination by no means always go hand in hand.”
“When do you purpose calling on him?”
“Some time in the course of to-morrow.”