Daisy started off on the instant, and returned in a moment with the
intelligence that Mr. Danesfield, the manager of the bank, was
standing on the steps, and that his face was very red.

On hearing this intelligence poor Miss Martineau's face also became
suffused with a deep flush, and she pushed her poke bonnet a little
backward in her excitement. An awful idea had suddenly darted through
her brain.

Perhaps Mr. Danesfield had called to announce some misfortune. Perhaps
the two hundred pounds was lost; perhaps there was no balance at the
bank!

When the good gentleman was ushered into the room she glanced at him
mysteriously, and even while he was shaking hands with Jasmine and
Daisy, began letting fall short, but mysterious sentences--

"Mrs. Ellsworthy has called--_much_ pleased--inclined to take them up.
They are to spend to-morrow at Shortlands." Mr. Danesfield raised his
eyebrows, pulled Daisy to stand between his knees; and, staring at
Miss Martineau over his gold-rimmed glasses, said--

"Eh! eh!--Shortlands--Ellsworthy's--worthy folk!" here he laughed,
pleased with his pun; "yes, Miss Martineau, a good opportunity,
undoubtedly!"

At this moment Primrose came into the room, and Miss Martineau,
judging that she might best serve her cause by retiring from the scene
of action, went away.