CHAPTER XVII--A BUSINESS TRANSACTION.
When Stephen had sent off her letter to the bank she went out for a stroll; she knew it would be no use trying to get rest before dinner.
That ordeal, too, had to be gone through.

She found herself unconsciously going in the direction of the grove; but when she became aware of it a great revulsion overcame her, and she shuddered.
Slowly she took her way across the hard stretch of finely-kept grass which lay on the side of the house away from the wood.

The green sward lay like a sea, dotted with huge trees, singly, or in clumps as islands.
In its far-stretching stateliness there was something soothing.

She came back to the sound of the dressing-gong with a better strength to resist the trial before her.

Well she knew her aunt would have something to say on the subject of her interference in Leonard Everard's affairs.
Her fears were justified, for when they had come into the drawing-room after dinner Miss Rowly began: 'Stephen dear, is it not unwise of you to interfere in Mr.Everard's affairs ?' 'Why unwise, Auntie ?' 'Well, my dear, the world is censorious.