She put the letter back in its envelope
and placed it in the little bag always carried. But she said nothing. Stephen wondered, but waited. That night, when Stephen's maid had left her, there came a gentle tap at
her door, and an instant after the door opened. The tap had been a
warning, not a request; it had in a measure prepared Stephen, who was not
surprised to see her Aunt in dressing-gown, though it was many a long day
since she had visited her niece's room at night. She closed the door
behind her, saying:

'There is something I want to talk to you about, dearest, and I thought
it would be better to do so when there could not be any possible
interruption. And besides,' here there was a little break in her voice,
'I could hardly summon up my courage in the daylight.' She stopped, and
the stopping told its own story. In an instant Stephen's arm's were
round her, all the protective instinct in her awake, at the distress of
the woman she loved. The old lady took comfort from the warmth of the
embrace, and held her tight whilst she went on:

'It is about these bills, my dear. Come and sit down and put a candle
near me. I want you to read something.' 'Go on, Auntie dear,' she said gravely. The old lady, after a pause,
spoke with a certain timidity:

'They are all paid; at least all that can be. Perhaps I had better read
you the letter I have had from my solicitors:

'"Dear Madam,--In accordance with your instructions we have paid all the
accounts mentioned in Schedule A (enclosed). We have placed for your
convenience three columns: (1) the original amount of each account, (2)
the amount of discount we were able to arrange, and (3) the amount paid. We regret that we have been unable to carry out your wishes with regard
to the items enumerated in Schedule B (enclosed). We have, we assure
you, done all in our power to find the gentlemen whose names and
addresses are therein given. These were marked 'Debt of honour' in the
list you handed to us. Not having been able to obtain any reply to our
letters, we sent one of our clerks first to the addresses in London, and
afterwards to Oxford. That clerk, who is well used to such inquiries,
could not find trace of any of the gentlemen, or indeed of their
existence. We have, therefore, come to the conclusion that, either there
must be some error with regard to (a) names, (b) addresses, or (c) both;
or that no such persons exist. As it would be very unlikely that such
errors could occur in all the cases, we can only conclude that there have
not been any such persons. If we may hazard an opinion: it is possible
that, these debts being what young men call 'debts of honour,' the
debtor, or possibly the creditors, may not have wished the names
mentioned. In such case fictitious names and addresses may have been
substituted for the real ones. If you should like any further inquiry
instituted we would suggest that you ascertain the exact names and
addresses from the debtor. Or should you prefer it we would see the
gentleman on your behalf, on learning from you his name and address. We
can keep, in the person of either one of the Firm or a Confidential Clerk
as you might prefer, any appointment in such behalf you may care to make. '"We have already sent to you the receipted account from each of the
creditors as you directed, viz. 'Received from Miss Laetitia Rowly in
full settlement to date of the account due by Mr. Leonard Everard the sum
of,' etc. etc. And also, as you further directed, a duplicate receipt of
the sum-total due in each case made out as 'Received in full settlement
to date of account due by,' etc. etc. The duplicate receipt was pinned
at the back of each account so as to be easily detachable. '"With regard to finance we have carried out your orders, etc."' She
hurried on the reading. "These sums, together with the amounts of nine
hundred pounds sterling, and seven hundred pounds sterling lodged to the
account of Miss Stephen Norman in the Norcester branch of the Bank as
repayment of moneys advanced to you as by your written instructions, have
exhausted the sum, etc."' She folded up the letter with the schedules,
laying the bundle of accounts on the table. Stephen paused; she felt it
necessary to collect herself before speaking. 'Auntie dear, will you let me see that letter? Oh, my dear, dear Auntie,
don't think I mistrust you that I ask it. I do because I love you, and
because I want to love you more if it is possible to do so.' Miss Rowly
handed her the letter. She rose from the arm of the chair and stood
beside the table as though to get better light from the candle than she
could get from where she had sat. She read slowly and carefully to the end; then folded up the letter and
handed it to her aunt. She came back to her seat on the edge of the
chair, and putting her arms round her companion's neck looked her
straight in the eyes. The elder woman grew embarrassed under the
scrutiny; she coloured up and smiled in a deprecatory way as she said:

'Don't look at me like that, darling; and don't shake your head so. It
is all right! I told you I had my reasons, and you said you would trust
me. I have only done what I thought best!' 'But, Auntie, you have paid away more than half your little fortune. I
know all the figures. Father and uncle told me everything. Why did you
do it? Why did you do it?' The old woman held out her arms as she said:

'Come here, dear one, and sit on my knee as you used to when you were a
child, and I will whisper you.' Stephen sprang from her seat and almost
threw herself into the loving arms. For a few seconds the two, clasped
tight to each other's heart, rocked gently to and fro. The elder kissed
the younger and was kissed impulsively in return. Then she stroked the
beautiful bright hair with her wrinkled hand, and said admiringly:

'What lovely hair you have, my dear one!' Stephen held her closer and
waited. 'Well, my dear, I did it because I love you!' 'I know that, Auntie; you have never done anything else my life!' 'That is true, dear one. But it is right that I should do this. Now you
must listen to me, and not speak till I have done. Keep your thoughts on
my words, so that you may follow my thoughts. You can do your own
thinking about them afterwards. And your own talking too; I shall listen
as long as you like!' 'Go on, I'll be good!' 'My dear, it is not right that you should appear to have paid the debts
of a young man who is no relation to you and who will, I know well, never
be any closer to you than he is now.' She hurried on, as though fearing
an interruption, but Stephen felt that her clasp tightened. 'We never
can tell what will happen as life goes on. And, as the world is full of
scandal, one cannot be too careful not to give the scandalmongers
anything to exercise their wicked spite upon. I don't trust that young
man! he is a bad one all round, or I am very much mistaken. And, my
dear, come close to me!