"No, Mr. Meeson," suddenly said Augusta, rising to her feet and looking
exceedingly handsome and imposing in her anger. "No; I will not sign the
receipt, and I will not take this cheque. And, what is more, I will not
write you any more books. You have entrapped me. You have taken
advantage of my ignorance and inexperience, and entrapped me so that for
five years I shall be nothing but a slave to you, and, although I am now
one of the most popular writers in the country, shall be obliged to
accept a sum for my books upon which I cannot live. Do you know that
yesterday I was offered a thousand pounds for the copyright of a book
like 'Jemima's Vow'?--it's a large sum; but I have the letter. Yes, and I
have the book in manuscript now; and if I could publish it I should be
lifted out of poverty, together with my poor little sister!" and she gave
a sob. "But," she went on, "I cannot publish it, and I will not let you
have it and be treated like this; I had rather starve. I will publish
nothing for five years, and I will write to the papers and say
why--because I have been _cheated_, Mr. Meeson!"

"Cheated!" thundered the great man. "Be careful, young lady; mind what
you are saying. I have a witness; Eustace, you hear, '_cheated_'!
Eustace, '_cheated_'!"

"_I_ hear," said Eustace, grimly.

"Yes, Mr. Meeson, I said '_cheated_'; and I will repeat it, whether I am
locked up for it or not. Good morning, Mr. Meeson," and she curtseyed to
him, and then suddenly burst into a flood of tears.

In a minute Eustace was by her side.

"Don't cry, Miss Smithers; for Heaven's sake don't I can't bear to see