I
am content to wait. It will be sufficient happiness to me to know that
I have rescued you from a miserable and degrading position."
"You are only too generous," murmured Paulina, softly; "only too
generous."
"And now tell me the immediate object of this most welcome summons. I
will not press you for a prompt reply to my suit; I will trust that
time may be my friend. Tell me how I can serve you, and why you sent
for me to-day?"
"I sent for you that I might ask you for the loan of two hundred
pounds, to satisfy the claims of my most urgent creditors, and to
prevent the necessity of an ignominious flight."
"I will write you a cheque immediately for five hundred," said Douglas.
"You can drive to my banker's, and get it cashed there. Or stay; it
would not be so well for my banker to know that I lent you money. Let
me come again to you this evening, and bring ink sum in bank-notes.
That will give me an excuse for coming."
"How can I ever thank you sufficiently?"
"Do not thank me at all. Only let me love you, looking forward
hopefully to the day in-which you may learn to love me." "That day must
surely come ere long," replied Paulina, thoughtfully. "Gratitude so
profound as mine, esteem so sincere, must needs grow into a warmer
feeling."
"Yes, Paulina," said Douglas, "if your heart is free. Forgive me if I
approach a subject painful to you and to me.
Pages:
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551