She
consoled herself with the thought that even a large amount of money would
cause no inconvenience to so wealthy a woman as Stephen. Beyond this, as
she would have the handing over of the money to Leonard, she would know
the amount. If advisable, she could remonstrate. She could if necessary
consult, in confidence, with Harold. Her relief from her greater fear,
and her gladness at this new proof of her niece's confidence, were
manifested in the extra affection with which she bade her good-night. Stephen did not dare to breathe freely till she was quite alone; and as
she lay quiet in her bed in the dark she thought before sleep came. Her first feeling was one of thankfulness that immediate danger was
swerving from her. Things were so shaping themselves that she need not
have any fear concerning Leonard. For his own sake he would have to keep
silent. If he intended to blackmail her she would have the protection of
her aunt's knowledge of the loan, and of her participation in it. The
only weapon that remained to him was her letter; and that she would get
from him before furnishing the money for the payment of his other debts. These things out of the way, her thoughts turned to the matter of the
greater dread; that of which all along she had feared to think for a
moment: Harold! Harold! and her treatment of him! The first reception of the idea was positive anguish. From the moment he
had left her till now there had been no time when a consideration of the
matter was possible. Time pressed, or circumstances had interfered, or
her own personal condition had forbidden. Now, when she was alone, the
whole awful truth burst on her like an avalanche. Stephen felt the issue
of her thinking before the thinking itself was accomplished; and it was
with a smothered groan that she, in the darkness, held up her arms with
fingers linked in desperate concentration of appeal. Oh, if she could only take back one hour of her life, well she knew what
that hour would be! Even that shameful time with Leonard on the hill-top
seemed innocuous beside the degrading remembrance of her conduct to the
noble friend of her whole life. Sadly she turned over in her bed, and with shut eyes put her burning face
on the pillow, to hide, as it were, from herself her abject depth of
shame. Leonard lounged through the next morning with what patience he could. At
four o'clock he was at the door of Normanstand in his dogcart. This time
he had a groom with him and a suitcase packed for a night's use, as he
was to go on to London after his interview with Stephen. He had lost
sight altogether of the matter of Stephen's letter, or else he would have
been more nervous. He was taken into the blue drawing-room, where shortly Miss Rowly joined
him. He had not expected this. His mental uneasiness manifested itself
in his manner, and his fidgeting was not unobserved by the astute old
lady. He was disconcerted; 'overwhelmed' would better have described his
feelings when she said:

'Miss Norman is sorry she can't see you to-day as she is making a visit;
but she has given me a message for you, or rather a commission to
discharge. Perhaps you had better sit down at the table; there are
writing materials there, and I shall want a receipt of some sort.' 'Stephen did not say anything about a receipt!' The other smiled sweetly
as she said in a calm way:

'But unfortunately Miss Norman is not here; and so I have to do the best
I can. I really must have some proof that I have fulfilled my trust. You
see, Mr. Everard, though it is what lawyers call a "friendly"
transaction, it is more or less a business act; and I must protect
myself.' Leonard saw that he must comply, for time pressed. He sat down at the
table. Taking up a pen and drawing a sheet of paper towards him, he said
with what command of his voice he could:

'What am I to write?' The old lady took from her basket a folded sheet
of notepaper, and, putting on her reading-glasses, said as she smoothed
it out:

'I think it would be well to say something like this--"I, Leonard
Everard, of Brindehow, in the Parish of Normanstand, in the County of
Norcester, hereby acknowledge the receipt from Miss Laetitia Rowly of
nine hundred pounds sterling lent to me in accordance with my request,
the same being to clear me of a pressing debt due by me.' When he had finished writing the receipt Miss Rowly looked it over, and
handing it back to him, said:

'Now sign; and date!' He did so with suppressed anger. She folded the document carefully and put it in her pocket. Then taking
from the little pouch which she wore at her belt a roll of notes, she
counted out on the table nine notes of one hundred pounds each. As she
put down the last she said:

'Miss Norman asked me to say that a hundred pounds is added to the sum
you specified to her, as doubtless the usurers would, since you are
actually behind the time promised for repayment, require something extra
as a solatium or to avoid legal proceedings already undertaken. In fact
that they would "put more salt on your tail." The expression, I regret
to say, is not mine.' Leonard folded up the notes, put them into his pocket-book, and walked
away. He did not feel like adding verbal thanks to the document already
signed. As he got near the door the thought struck him; turning back he
said:

'May I ask if Stephen said anything about getting the document?' 'I beg your pardon,' she said icily, 'did you speak of any one?' 'Miss Norman, I meant!' Miss Rowly's answer to this came so smartly that
it left an added sting. Her arrow was fledged with two feathers so that
it must shoot true: her distrust of him and his own impotence. 'Oh no! Miss Norman knows nothing of this. She simply asked me to give
you the money. This is my own doing entirely. You see, I must exercise
my judgment on my dear niece's behalf. Of course it may not be necessary
to show her the receipt; but if it should ever be advisable it is always
there.' He looked at her with anger, not unmixed with admiration, as, bowing
rather lower than necessary, he went out of the door, saying sotto voce,
between his teeth:

'When my turn comes out you go! Neck and crop! Quick! Normanstand
isn't big enough to hold us both!' CHAPTER XVIII--MORE BUSINESS


When Leonard tendered the eight hundred pounds in payment of his debt of
five hundred, Mr. Cavendish at first refused to take it. But when
Leonard calmly but firmly refused to pay a single penny beyond the
obligations already incurred, including interest on the full sum for one
day, he acquiesced. He knew the type of man fully; and knew also that in
all probability it would not be long before he would come to the Firm
again on a borrowing errand. When such time should come, he would put an
extra clause into his Memorandum of Agreement which would allow the Firm
full power to make whatever extra charge they might choose in case of the
slightest default in making payment.