balance of an old debt, and that, with the doctor's bills, quite covered
my L120. I hope he does not think quite so ill of ine now. But the
money brought good luck to him, rather than to me. Well, sir, if you
were now to give me money, I should be on the look-out for some mournful
calamity. Gold is not natural to me. Some day, however, by and by, when
you are inducted into your living, and have become a renowned preacher,
and have plenty to spare, with an idea that you will feel more
comfortable in your mind if you had done something royal for the
basketmaker, I will ask you to help me to make up a sum, which I am
trying by degrees to save,--an enormous sum, almost as much as I paid
away from my railway compensation: I owe it to the lady who lent it to
release Sophy from an engagement which I--certainly without any remorse
of conscience--made the child break."

"Oh, yes! What is the amount? Let me at least repay that debt."

"Not yet. The lady can wait; and she would be pleased to wait, because
she deserves to wait: it would be unkind to her to pay it off at once.
But in the meanwhile if you could send me a few good books for Sophy,--
instructive, yet not very, very dry,-and a French dictionary, I can teach
her French when the winter days close in. You see I am not above being
paid, sir. But, Mr. Morley, there is a great favour you can do me."

"What is it? Speak."

"Cautiously refrain from doing me a great disservice! You are going back
to your friends and relations. Never speak of me to them. Never
describe me and my odd ways. Name not the lady, nor--nor--nor--the man
who claimed Sophy.