I have news that will please her.' He went into the kitchen and, in silence, began to count sovereigns down upon the table, just behind his wife, who sat over some sewing and had not yet spoken.

At the ring of each coin his heart throbbed painfully.
He fully realised, for the first time, what he had done.
At the ring of the fifth sovereign Mrs.Hood turned her head.
'What's that ?' she asked snappishly.
He went on counting till the nine were displayed.
'What is it ?' she repeated.

'Why do you fidget me so ?' 'You'd never guess,' Hood answered, laughing hoarsely.

'I had to go to Hebsworth to-day, and who ever do you think I met there?
Why, old Cheeseman.' He paused.
'And he--no, I'll never believe he paid his debt!' said his wife, with bitter congratulation.

For years the name of Cheeseman had been gall upon her tongue; even now she had not entirely ceased to allude to him, when she wished to throw especial force of sarcasm into a reminiscence of her earlier days.