Page:Adventures of Susan Hopley (Volume 1).pdf/116

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SUSAN HOPLEY.
103

welcome;" but as she pushed the piece of money towards Harry, she perceived something on it which led her to examine it more closely.

Over the royal effigy was cut the following inscription, "6th June, 1765." The characters appeared to have been made with a knife, and Susan felt perfectly sure that she had seen that half-crown before, and under circumstances that induced her at once to alter her mind and accept of Harry's gift.

It happened the day before Mr. Wentworth left home on his last fatal journey, that she was in his dressing-room when he was arranging some papers in the portfolio he took with him. He had emptied it of most of its contents, and laid them on the table beside him, when in turning round he jerked the table, which was but a small one, and they all fell to the ground. Susan assisted him to pick them up—and when she had done so, he asked if that was all.

"Yes, Sir," replied she—"it's all I see; but I thought I heard something roll away like money."

"No," answered Mr. Wentworth—"don't trouble yourself further—there was no money here."