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.