offer me the money," she said, "but, really, I can't accept it."
"Oh, but you must accept it, Mrs. Bradley. Why won't you take it?"
"Well, we are not in immediate need."
"That's all right; you can lay it away."
"And I am opposed, on principle, to accepting charity."
"Then we won't call it charity."
"Or gifts from those who are better off than I am. I don't believe there should be any rich people to make gifts, nor any poor people to receive them. I think the wealth of the world should be more evenly distributed."
"Oh, but you're wrong there, Mrs. Bradley. I think I can convince you"
"I'm too tired to be convinced to-day, Mr. Malleson."
"Pardon me! I'll come again later on and we'll talk it over."
"As you wish."
"Say in the course of a week or two?"
"If you desire."
She rose, as if to conclude the interview, and took the check and voucher from the table and handed them to him.
"Can't I prevail on you," he said, "to accept this gift?"
"Not to-day, Mr. Malleson."
"When I come again?"
"Possibly. It is said that a woman is never twice of the same mind."
"Then I shall certainly come."
He was looking at her still with undisguised and ever-increasing admiration. Not that he was conscious of it. It was purely involuntary. He would not knowingly have sought, in this way, to impress or embarrass a woman whose husband's dead body was lying just
