She was putting aside the various packets of letters and papers to be looked over more at leisure, when the Colonel knocked at the morning-room door, and told her that his brother would like to see her, when her work was done.  “But first,” he said, “I must ask you to be kind enough to look over some of these papers, and try to find receipts for some of those bills.”

“Here they are,” said Rachel, “I was going to look them over at home.”

“If you have time to examine them here with me,” said Colonel Keith, gently, “I think it might save Alick some pain and vexation.”

Rachel was entirely unaware of his meaning, and supposed he only thought of the mere thrilling of the recent wound; but when he sat down and took a long account out of a tradesman’s envelope, a chill of dismay came over her, followed by a glow of hope as she recollected a possible explanation:  “Have these wretched tradesmen been sending in bills over again at such a time as this?” she exclaimed.

“I should be very glad to find their receipts,” returned the Colonel.

They opened the most business-like looking bundles, all of them, though neatly kept, really in hopeless confusion.  In vain was the search, and notes came forth which rendered it but too plain that there had been a considerable amount of debt even before the marriage, and that she had made partial payments and promises of clearing all off gradually, but that her new expenses were still growing upon her, and the few payments “on account,” since she had been Lady Keith, by no means tallied with the amount of new purchases and orders.  No one had suspected her money matters of being in disorder, and Rachel was very slow to comprehend; her simple, country life had made her utterly unaware of the difficulties and ways and means of a young lady of fashion.  Even the direct evidence before her eyes would not at first persuade her that it was not “all those wicked tradesmen;” she had always heard that fashionable shops were not to be trusted.

“I am afraid,” said Colonel Keith, “that the whole can scarcely be shifted on the tradesmen.  I fear poor Bessie was scarcely free from blame in this matter.”

“Not paying!  Going on in debt!  Oh she could not have meant it;” said Rachel, still too much astonished to understand.  “Of course one hears of gay, thoughtless people doing such things, but Bessie—­who had so much thought and sense.  It must be a mistake!  Can’t you go and speak to the people?”

“It is very sad and painful to make such discoveries,” said Colonel Keith; “but I am afraid such things are not uncommon in the set she was too much thrown amongst.”

“But she knew so well—­she was so superior; and with Alick and her uncle to keep her above them,” said Rachel; “I cannot think she could have done such things.”

“I could not think, but I see it was so,” said Colonel Keith, gravely.  “As I am obliged to understand these things, she must have greatly exceeded her means, and have used much cleverness and ingenuity in keeping the tradesmen quiet, and preventing all from coming to light.”