o issue it if he would pay the cost, amounting to about fifty
pounds. They wanted the copyright, too, but they have yielded that
point. Farquharson told me you said that my uncle paid nearly two
hundred pounds for my valentines when--at the time of my father's sale;
and I thought, perhaps--perhaps----Do you see? I brought a few of the
prettiest ones to show you. I thought you might have forgotten how
pretty they are. I want so badly to have John's book published, because
he is certain to succeed if only this first little book can be brought
out."

The bookseller made no reply. He sat on the step of the ladder, gazing
absently out of the window, over Phyllis's head.

Be careful, Samuel Rowlandson, you old sentimentalist, with your faded
old patch-boxes and tattered old fans. You very nearly said something
then, quite out of the line of trade. Fortunately you thought it over,
for a minute or two, while Phyllis turned her pretty eyes away, to hide
the tears that filled them. Be careful, Samuel Rowlandson, or you will
say it now, as she tries to smile at you, with the corners of her sweet
mouth trembling. Be care--It is of no use; he will say it.

* * * * *

"I have thought of a way I might be of service to you," said Mr.
Rowlandson meditatively. "You see--it is not as though I did not know
the value of that collection of valentines. They are worth one hundred
pounds, at the lowest figure. Now--if you would not take offense, and
you should not, I am sure, when no offense is meant; I might offer to
lend you--say, fifty pounds, or half their lowest value, accepting the
valentines as security, and--"

Phyllis's face lighted eagerly; then clouded again.

"But, Mr. Rowlandson," she objected, "that wouldn't be--quite--you
know--businesslike, would it? I shouldn't like to do anything that John
would feel was not quite regular and proper."

Mr. Rowlandson swallowed something in his throat.

"I should make it very businesslike, indeed by asking you to sign a
note; drawn in the strictest, legal terms," he said gravely. "And I
should charge you interest, at the rate of five per cent, payable
half-yearly; on the appointed day."

Phyllis considered his face with serious eyes; Mr. Rowlandson slowly
repeated:--

"Five percent? payable half-yearly; on the appointed day."

"It really sounds quite--quite businesslike and regular," she said. "Are
you certain you can spare so large a sum?--without th