"He means to write it from Milan. We know you want to get on, so we
purpose to leave here the day after to-morrow."

"Oh!" said I thinking of the bill immediately, and remembering that
Mrs. Greene had insisted on having champagne for dinner.

"And if anything more is to be done about the nasty box, it may be
done there," continued Sophonisba.

"But I must go to-morrow," said I, "at 5 a.m."

"Nonsense," said Sophonisba. "Go to-morrow, when I,--I mean we,--are
going on the next day!"

"And I might as well explain," said I, gently dropping the hand that
was on my arm, "that I find,--I find it will be impossible for me--to-
-to--"

"To what?"

"To advance Mr. Greene any more money just at present." Then
Sophonisba's arm dropped all at once, and she exclaimed, "Oh, Mr.
Robinson!"

After all, there was a certain hard good sense about Miss Greene which
would have protected her from my evil thoughts had I known all the
truth. I found out afterwards that she was a considerable heiress,
and, in spite of the opinion expressed by the present Mrs. Robinson
when Miss Walker, I do not for a moment think she would have accepted