ried me
if I cared to have him, but I didn't see my way to it. Now let's drop
the subject."

David sat down not far from the fire. He held out his hands to the
blaze. There was a sort of pleased excitement about him which Alison
after a time could not help noticing.

"You look quite perky about something," she said. "It is good for any
of us to be cheerful just now. What's up?"

"Where's Grannie?" said Dave. "I'd like to tell her first."

"Oh, very well, just as you please. But she is out. She won't be back
for a good bit yet."

"Aint it very late for her to be out? Where is she gone?"

"To Bayswater--to talk to a clergyman who used to befriend us in the
old days. What is your news, David? You may as well tell me."

"Why, it's this. Mr. Watson has just had a long talk with me. He
wants me to help him with the accounts, and not to do messages any
more. He could get a lad for messages, he says, who hasn't got such a
head on his shoulders as I have. I can do bookkeeping pretty well, and
he'll give me some more lessons. I am to start next week doing
office-work, and he'll give me five shillings a week instead of half a
crown. I call that prime; don't you, Alison?"

"To be sure it is," she answered heartily. She was very fond of David,
and the note of exultation in his voice touched her, and penetrated
through the deep gloom at her heart.

"Why, this will cheer Grannie," she continued.

"There's more to tell yet," continued David, "for I am to have my meals
as well as the five shillings a week; so there'll be half a crown at
the very least to put to the family purse, Alison, and I need be no
expense, only just to sleep here. I'll bring the five shillings to
Grannie every Saturday night, and she can spend just what I want for
clothes and keep the rest. I guess she'll make it go as far as
anybody."

"This is good news," continued Alison. "Of course five shillings is a
sight better nor nothing, and if I only got a place we might keep the
home together."

"Why, is there any fear of our losing it?" asked David.

"Dear me, David, can we keep it on nothing at all? There's Grannie not
earning sixpence, and there's me not earning sixpence; and how is the
rent to be paid, and us all to be kept in food and things? It aint to
be done--you might have the common sense to know that."

"To be sure I might," said David, his brow clouding. "After all, then,
I don't suppose the five shillings is much h