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prayed him to avoid trouble for his own good； little thinking he’d
come to it through me。 But I know he’d die a hundred deaths； ere
ever he’d break his word。 I know that of him well。”
Stephen had remained quietly attentive； in his usual thoughtful
attitude； with his hand at his chin。 He now spoke in a voice rather
less steady than usual。
“No one； excepting myseln； can ever know what honour； an
what love； and respect； I bear to Rachael； or wi’ what cause。 When
I passed that promess； I towd her true； she were th’ Angel o’ my
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life。 ’Twere a solemn promess。 ’Tis gone fro’ me； for ever。”
Louisa turned her head to him； and bent it with a deference
that was new in her。 She looked from him to Rachael； and her
features softened。 “What will you do？” she asked him。 And her
voice had softened too。
“Weel； ma’am；” said Stephen； making the best of it； with a
smile； “when I ha finished off； I mun quit this part； and try
another。 Fortnet or misfortnet； a man can but try； there’s nowt to
be done wi’out tryin’—cept laying down and dying。”
“How will you travel？”
“Afoot； my kind ledy； afoot。”
Louisa coloured； and a purse appeared in her hand。 The
rustling of a banknote was audible； as she unfolded one and laid it
on the table。
“Rachael； will you tell him—for you know how； without
offence—that this is freely his； to help him on his way？ Will you
entreat him to take it？”
“I canna do that； young lady；” she answered； turning her head
aside。 “Bless you for thinking o’ the poor lad wi’ such tenderness。
But ’tis for him to know his heart and what is right according to
it。”
Louisa looked； in part incredulous； in part frightened； in part
overcome with quick sympathy； when this man of so much self…
command； who had been so plain and steady through the late
interview； lost his composure in a moment； and now stood with his
hand before his face。 She stretched out hers； as if she would have
touched him； then checked herself and remained still。
“Not e’en Rachael；” said Stephen； when he stood again with his
face uncovered； “could mak sitch a kind offerin； by onny words；
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kinder T’ show that I’m not a man wi’out reason and gratitude； I’ll
tak two pound。 I’ll borrow ’t for t’ pay ’t back。 ’Twill be the
sweetest work as ever I ha done； that puts it in my power t’
acknowledge once more my lasting thankfulness for this present
action。”
She was fain to take up the note again； and to substitute the
much smaller sum he had named。 He was neither courtly； nor
handsome； nor picturesque； in any respect； and yet his manner of
accepting it； and of expressing his thanks without more words；
had a grace in it that Lord Chesterfield could not have taught his
son in a century。
Tom had sat upon the bed； swinging one leg； and sucking his
walking…stick with sufficient unconcern； until the visit had
attained this stage。 Seeing his sister ready to depart； he got up；
rather hurriedly； and put in a word。
“Just wait a moment； Loo！ Before we go； I should like to speak
to him a moment。 Something comes into my head。 If you’ll step
out on the stairs； Blackpool； I’ll mention it。 Never mind a light；
man！” Tom was remarkably impatient of his moving towards the
cupboard to get one。 “It don’t want a light。”
Stephen followed him out； and Tom closed the room door； and
held the lock in his hand。
“I say！” he whispered。 “I think I can do you a good turn。 Don’t
ask me what it is； because it may not come to anything。 But there’s
no harm in my trying。”
His breath fell like a flame of fire on Stephen’s ear； it was so
hot。
“That was our light porter at the Bank；” said Tom； “who
brought you the message tonight。 I call him our light porter；
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because I belong to the Bank too。”
Stephen thought； “What a hurry he is in！” He spoke so
confusedly。
“Well！” said Tom。 “Now look here！ When are you off？”
“T’ day’s Monday；” replied Stephen； considering。 “Why； sir；
Friday or Saturday； nigh ‘bout。”
“Friday or Saturday；” said Tom。 “Now； look here！ I am not sure
that I can do you the good turn I want to do you—that’s my sister；
you know； in your room—but I may be able to； and if I should not
be able to； there’s no harm done。 So I tell you what。 You’ll know
our light porter again？”
“Yes； sure；” said Stephen。
“Very well；” returned Tom。 “When you leave work of a night；
between this and your going away； just hang about the Bank an
hour or so； will you？ Don’t take on； as if you meant anything； if he
should see you hanging about there； because I shan’t put him up
to speak to you； unless I find I can do you the service I want to do
you。 In that case he’ll have a note or a message for you； but not
else。 Now look here！ You are sure you understand。”
He had wormed a finger； in the darkness； through a button…hole
of Stephen’s coat； and was screwing that corner of the garment
tight up； round and round； in an extraordinary manner。
“I understand； sir；” said Stephen。
“Now look here；” repeated Tom。 “Be sure you don’t make any
mistake then； and don’t forget。 I shall tell my sister as we go home；
what I have in view； and she’ll approve； I know。 Now look here！
You’re all right； are you？ You understand all about it？ Very well
then。 Come along； Loo！”
He pushed the door open as he called to her； but did not return
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