This done, she returned to the little room, and again sat herself down in her chair.
'Here's your five pounds, Mrs.Davis,' said Charley; 'I wish you knew the trouble I have had to get it for you.' To give Mrs.Davis her due, this was not the subject on which she was anxious to speak.

She would have been at present well inclined that Charley should remain her debtor.

'Indeed, Mr.
Tudor, I am very sorry you should have taken any trouble on such a trifle.

If you're short of money, it will do for me just as well in October.' Charley looked at the sovereigns, and bethought himself how very short of cash he was.

Then he thought of the fight he had had to get them, in order that he might pay the money which he had felt so ashamed of having borrowed, and he determined to resist the temptation.
'Did you ever know me flush of cash?
You had better take them while you can get them,' and as he pushed them across the table with his stick, he remembered that all he had left was ninepence.
'I don't want the money at present, Mr.Tudor,' said the widow.
'We're such old friends that there ought not to be a word between us about such a trifle--now don't leave yourself bare; take what you want and settle with me at quarter-day.' 'Well, I'll take a sovereign,' said he, 'for to tell you the truth, I have only the ghost of a shilling in my pocket.' And so it was settled; Mrs.Davis reluctantly pocketed four of Mr.
M'Ruen's sovereigns, and Charley kept in his own possession the fifth, as to which he had had so hard a combat in the lobby of the bank.
He then sat silent for a while and smoked, and Mrs.Davis again waited for him to begin the subject on which she wished to speak.
'And what's the matter with Norah all this time ?' he said at last.
'What's the matter with her ?' repeated Mrs.Davis.