me," he said in a low voice. "But even so, I don't
feel as if I'd really done enough. You see, I was as
sure -- as sure as ever man was of anything -- that this
war was going to come either this year or next! As
a matter of fact I thought it would be next year --
I thought the Germans would wish to be even more
ready than they are."

"But do you really think they are ready?" she said
doubtfully. "Look how badly they've been doing at
Liege." It was strange how Mrs. Otway's mind
had veered round in the last few minutes. She now
wanted the Germans to be beaten, and beaten quickly.

He shook his head impatiently. "Wait till they get
into their stride!" And then, in a different, a more
diffident voice, "Then you'll consent to relieve my mind
by keeping the contents of that envelope -- I mean of
course by spending them? As a matter of fact I've a
confession to make to you." He looked at her deprecatingly.
"I've just arranged with my London banker
to make up those Hamburg dividends. He'll send you
the money in notes. He understands----" and then
he got rather red. "He understands that I'm practically
your trustee, Mrs. Otway."

"But, Major Guthrie -- it isn't _true!_ How could
you say such a thing?"

She felt confused, unhappy, surprised, awkward,
grateful. Of course she couldn't take this man's
money! He was a friend, in some ways a very close
friend of hers, but she hadn't known him more than
four years. If she _should_ run short of money, why
there must be a dozen people or more on whose
friendship she had a greater claim, and who could,
and would, help her.

[[100]]

p099 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p100w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p101

v?