He brightened and grew cordial, admitted a superfluous sensitiveness, assured his companion that he prized her sympathy, counted seriously upon her advice; in short, was as amiable as he knew how to be.

Under his soothing talk, Mrs.Woolstan recovered herself; but she had a preoccupied air.
"If you regard me as a serious friend," she said at length with some embarrassment, "you can easily prove it, and put my mind at ease." "How ?" asked Dyce, with a quick, startled look.
"You have said more than once that a man and woman who were really friends should be just as men are with each other--plain-spoken and straightforward and--and no nonsense." "That's my principle.

I won't have any woman for a friend on other terms." "Then--here's what I want to say.

I'm your friend call me Jack or Harry, if you like--and I see a way in which I can be of use to you.

It happens that I have rather more money than I want for my own use.