He had of late been bombarded with dunning letters from tradesmen; for during his University life, and ever since, he had run into debt.

The moderate allowance his father made him he had treated as cash for incidental expenses, but everything else had been on credit.

Indeed he was beginning to get seriously alarmed about the future, for his father, who had paid his debts once, and at a time when they were by comparison inconsiderable, had said that he would not under any circumstances pay others.

He was not sorry, therefore, for an opportunity of getting away for a few hours from home; from himself--from anxieties, possibilities.
The morning was a sweltering one, and he grumbled to himself as he set out on his journey through the woods.
* * * * * Stephen rose fresh and in good spirits, despite her sleepless night.

When youth and strength are to the fore, a night's sleep is not of much account, for the system once braced up is not allowed to slacken.