rd gave a start.

"Break down!" She repeated the words in a husky, voice, with a paling
face. "What do you mean?"

"Only that in consequence of having in store a large stock of unsalable
goods bought by your indiscreet son-in-law, who knows no more about
business than a child, we are in a temporary strait."

"Why did you trust him to buy?" asked Mrs. Dinneford.

"I didn't trust him. He bought without consulting me," was replied,
almost rudely.

"Will two thousand be the end of this thing?"

"I think so."

"You only think so?"

"I am sure of it."

"Very well; I will see what can be done. But all this must have an end,
Mr. Freeling. We cannot supply any more money. You must look elsewhere
if you have further need. Mr. Dinneford is getting very much annoyed and
worried. You surely have other resources."

"I have drawn to the utmost on all my resources," said the man, coldly.

Mrs. Dinneford remained silent for a good while, her eyes upon the
floor. Freeling watched her face intently, trying to read what was in
her thoughts. At last she said, in a suggestive tone,

"There are many ways of getting money known to business-men--a little
risky some of them, perhaps, but desperate cases require desperate
expedients. You understand me?"

Freeling took a little time to consider before replying.

"Yes," he said, at length, speaking slowly, as one careful of his words.
"But all expedients are 'risky,' as you say--some of them very risky. It
takes a long, cool head to manage them safely."

"I don't know a longer or cooler head than yours," returned Mrs.
Dinneford, a faint smile playing about her lips.

"Thank you for the compliment," said Freeling, his lips reflecting the
smile on hers.

"You must think of some expedient." Mrs. Dinneford's manner grew
impressive. She spoke with emphasis and deliberation. "Beyond the sum of
two thousand dollars, which I will get for you by to-morrow, I shall not
advance a single penny. You may set that down as sure. If you are not
sharp enough and strong enough, with the advantage you possess, to hold
your own, then you must go under; as for me, I have done all that I can
or will."

Freeling saw that she was wholly in earnest, and understood what she
meant by "desperate expedients." Granger was to be ruined, and she was
growing impatient of delay. He had no desire to hurt the young man--he
rather liked him. Up to this time he had been content with what he could
draw out of Mrs.