Katherine, growing a little clearer, and amazed at her own increasing
self-possession, drew off her gloves, and taking the rusty pen offered
her, wrote at his dictation:

"_To Messrs. Rogers & Stokes, Corbett Court, E. C._:

"GENTLEMEN,--Sell all my Florida shares if possible to-day,
even if they decline a quarter.

"I am yours faithfully--"

"Now let me come there!" he exclaimed. "I'll let no one sign my name.
I'll manage that. There? there! Direct an envelope. Oh Lord! I haven't a
stamp--not one! and its ten minutes' walk to the post-office."

"I think--I believe I have a stamp," said Katherine, drawing her slender
purse from her pocket and opening it.

"Have you?" eagerly. "Give it to me. Stick it on! Go! go! There is a
pillar just outside the left-hand gate there; and mind you come back. I
will give you a penny. Ah, yes, you shall have your penny?"

"I hope you will hear me when I return," she said, appealingly, as she
left the room.

"Ay, ay; but go--go now."

When Katherine returned she found the old man, with the half-opened door
in his hand, waiting for her.