Page:The Wanderer (1814 Volume 2).pdf/216

 "Sir!" cried Ellis, surprised.

"Ma'am?" cried he, starting, and looking round; and then, smiling at himself, adding, "I protest I did not think of your being so near me! I had forgot that. But I hope you won't take it ill?"

"By no means," she answered; and asked whether she might write a few lines by him to Miss Arbe.

He willingly consented.

She then drew up an animated representation, to that lady, of the irksome situation into which she was cast, from the evident distrust manifested by Miss Matson; and the suspicious speed with which the other bills had been delivered. She meant to send her small accounts immediately to all her scholars, and entreated Miss Arbe to use her interest in hastening their discharge.

When she raised her head to give this, with an apology, to Mr. Giles, she saw him unfolding some small papers, which he began very earnestly to examine.