answered Lionel. "What is going to be done about
Deborah and Amilly West?"

"In what way?"

"As to their residence."

"You saw what Dr. West says in his letter. They can stop."

"It is not a desirable arrangement, Jan, their remaining in the house."

"They won't hurt me," responded Jan. "They are welcome."

"I think, Jan, your connection with the West family should be entirely
closed. The opportunity offers now: and, if not embraced, you don't know
when another may arise. Suppose, a short while hence, you were to marry?
It might be painful to your feelings, then, to have to say to Deborah
and Amilly--'You must leave my house: there's no further place for you
in it.' Now, in this dissolution of partnership, the change can take
place as in the natural course of events."

Jan had opened his great eyes wonderingly at the words. "I marry!"
uttered he. "What should bring me marrying?"

"You may be marrying some time, Jan."

"Not I," answered Jan. "Nobody would have me. They can stop on in the
house, Lionel. What does it matter? I don't see how I and Cheese should
get on without them. Who'd make the pies? Cheese would die of chagrin,
if he didn't get one every day."

"I see a great deal of inconvenience in the way," persisted Lionel. "The
house will be yours then. Upon what terms would they remain? As
visitors, as lodgers--as what?"

Jan opened his eyes wider. "Visitors! lodgers!" cried he. "I don't know
what you mean, Lionel. They'd stop on as they always have done--as
though the house were theirs. They'd be welcome, for me."

"You must do as you like, Jan; but I do not think the arrangement a
desirable one. It would be establishing a claim which Dr. West may be
presuming upon later. With his daughters in the house, as of right, he
may be for coming back some time and taking up his abode in it. It would
be better for you and the Misses West to separate; to have your
establishments apart."

"I shall never turn them out," said Jan. "They'd break their hearts.
Look at the buttons, too! Who'd sew them on? Cheese bursts off two a
day, good."

"As you please, Jan. My motive in speaking was not ill-nature towards
the Misses West; but regard for you. As the sisters of my late wife, I
shall take care that they do not want--should their resources from Dr.
West fail. He speaks of allowing them a liberal sum annually; but I fear
they must not make sure that the promise will be carried out. Should it
not be, they will ha