Alas! the blue wells were running over now.
He took her cold hands in his; he knelt beside her and passed his arm around her waist.

He drew her head upon his shoulder.

He was not sure that any of these things were effective until she suddenly lifted her eyes to his with the last ray of mirth in them vanishing in a big teardrop, put her arms round his neck, and sobbed: "Oh, George! You blessed innocent!" An eloquent silence was broken by a remorseful start from Barker.
"But I must go and warn my poor partners, dearest; there yet may be time; perhaps they have not yet taken possession of your father's claim." "Yes, George dear," said the young girl, with sparkling eyes; "and tell them to do so AT ONCE!" "What ?" gasped Barker.
"At once--do you hear ?--or it may be too late! Go quick." "But your father--Oh, I see, dearest, you will tell him all yourself, and spare me." "I shall do nothing so foolish, Georgey.

Nor shall you! Don't you see the note isn't due for a month?
Stop! Have you told anybody but Paw and me ?" "Only the bank manager." She ran out of the room and returned in a minute tying the most enchanting of hats by a ribbon under her oval chin.

"I'll run over and fix him," she said.
"Fix him ?" returned Barker, aghast.
"Yes, I'll say your wicked partners have been playing a practical joke on you, and he mustn't give you away.