owed to each of them. In every case the writer
expressed the intention of calling in person for the money. It was
partly to try and get the cash with which to pay these accounts that
Rose had gone out with a cheque. It was so odd, so disagreeable, to find
oneself without the power of getting any ready money. Such a thing had
never happened to Mrs. Otway before! It would be really very
disagreeable if Rose, after all, failed to cash that cheque.

Then it suddenly occurred to her that James Hayley might bring her down
some money to-morrow. Nothing would be easier, or so she supposed, than
for _him_ to get it. She went over to her writing-table by the window
and hurriedly wrote a note. Then she made out a cheque for twenty
pounds.

Oh yes, it would be quite easy for James, who was in a Government
office, to get her the money!

Mrs. Otway, like most English people, had a limitless belief in the
powers of any one connected with the Government. Twenty pounds? It was a
good deal of money. She had never had so much cash in the house before.
But what was happening now had taught her a lesson. The Dean had said
that all the banks would be open again on Monday. But the Dean was not
quite infallible. How often had he and she agreed that Germany would
never, _never_ dream of going to war with any of her peaceful
neighbours!

She read over the letter she had written:

"DEAR JAMES,--I enclose a cheque for twenty pounds. Would you
kindly get it cashed for me, and would you bring down the
money to-morrow when you come? Of course I should like the
money, if possible, in gold, but still it will do if you can
get me two five-pound notes and the rest in gold and silver. I
find that several people to whom I owe small amounts are
anxious to be paid, and they do not seem to care about taking
cheques. What strange times we live in! Both Rose and I long
to see you and hear all the news.

"Your affectionate aunt,

"MARY OTWAY."

James Hayley always called her "Aunt Mary," though as a matter of fact
he was the child of a first cousin.

She got up from her table, and began folding up the sheets of newspaper
lying on the floor. She did not want poor old Anna to see the great
staring headlines telling of the defeat of the Germans. Having folded
the paper, and put it away in an unobtrusive corner, she went upstairs
for her hat. She felt that it would do her good to go out into the air,