‘I will,’ said Lily, ’but first I must ask Emily to pay me for the London commissions.’

Emily repented not having had a private conference with Lily.

‘So you have not settled your accounts,’ said Mr. Mohun.  ’I hope Lily has not ruined you, Emily.’

‘I thought her a mirror of prudence,’ said Claude.

’Well, Emily, is the sovereign forthcoming?  I am going directly, for Frank has something to do at Raynham, and William is going to try his gray in the phaeton.’

‘I am afraid you will think me very silly,’ said Emily, after some deliberation, ’but I hope Lily will not be very angry when I confess that seven shillings is the sum total of my property.’

‘Oh, Emily,’ cried Lily, in dismay, ’what has become of your five pounds?’

‘I gave them as a subscription for a clergyman’s widow in distress,’ said Emily; ’it was the impulse of a moment, I could not help it, and, dear Lily, I hope it will not inconvenience you.’

‘If papa will be kind enough to wait for this pound till Michaelmas,’ said Lily.

‘I would wait willingly,’ said Mr. Mohun, ’but I will not see you cheated.  How much does she owe you?’

‘The commissions came to six pounds three,’ said Lily, looking down.

‘But, Lily,’ said Jane, ‘you forget the old debt.’

‘Never mind,’ whispered Lily; but Mr. Mohun asked what Jane had said, and Claude repeated her speech, upon which he inquired, ’What old debt?’

‘Papa,’ said Emily, in her most candid tone, ’I do not know what I should have done but for Lily’s kindness.  Really, I cannot get on with my present allowance; being the eldest, so many expenses come upon me.’

‘Then am I to understand,’ replied Mr. Mohun, ’that your foolish vanity has led you to encroach on your sister’s kindness, and to borrow of her what you had no reasonable hope of repaying?  Again, Lily, what does she owe you?’

Emily felt the difference between the sharp, curious eyes with which Jane regarded her, and the sorrowful downcast looks of Lily, who replied, ‘The old debt is four pounds, but that does not signify.’

‘Well,’ resumed her father, ’I cannot blame you for your good-nature, though an older person might have acted otherwise.  You must have managed wonderfully well, to look always so well dressed with only half your proper income.  Here is the amount of the debt.  Is it right?  And, Lily, one thing more; I wish to thank you for what you have done towards keeping this house in order.  You have worked hard, and endured much, and from all I can gather, you have prevented much mischief.  Much has unfairly been thrown upon you, and you have well and steadily done your duty.  For you, Emily, I have more to say to you, but I shall not enter on it at present, for it is late.  You had better get ready, or you will keep the others waiting.’

‘I do not think I can go,’ sighed Emily.