“You are very kind,” she said; it was plain she was rather surprised at the offer.
“I don't mean that you are to sign any more notes,” he hastily explained; “but it hurts me to think that you may be limited in any way. It can stand as a personal debt that some day you will repay when the other matters have been settled. I assure you it will give me great pleasure to aid you,” he finished warmly, but Virginia turned to him with the question:
“Mr. Benson, please tell me one thing, when you went West for me, who bore that expense? Did you?”
“Yes, Mrs. Landray;” but the admission was made with reluctance.
“It never occurred to me until this moment that that was possible! It has not been returned to you?”
“But it has not been my wish that it should be,” he rejoined quickly.—
“I wish you had told me of this before!” she continued a little reproachfully.
“Why?” he asked.
“It might have been easier.”
“Nonsense, Mrs. Landray! To tell you the truth I had forgotten all about it.”