already noticed in him, "I think you must be American."
She smiled.
"No," she said, "only half American—on my mother's side—though I have lived in the States a good deal. And what made you think so, I pray?"
"Something in what you said. It sounded like the smart things you hear of sometimes as having been said in America," he said. "I should think you are good at giving advice."
"I am—very good. Let me give you some."
"Yes?"
"Let me lend you twenty pounds."
Goulburn uttered a hasty exclamation. He sprang to his feet, and stood with flushed cheek and amazed eyes staring at her. She returned his gaze with unmoved composure.
"Lend—me—twenty pounds!" he repeated. "What do you———"
"I mean what I say. Let me lend you twenty pounds."
"But why should you?"
"Why should I? That's obvious. So that you can pay your sister."
Goulburn suddenly saw that she was not joking, but in sober earnest.
She had a curiously shaped purse in her hand, and her fingers were already on its clasp. Goulburn felt himself blushing hotly; he drew away from her.
"Oh, no, no!" he said. "I—I couldn't—I—please don't suggest such a thing."
