! Not
that she believed it, though," she added, with a touch of chagrin. The
Beggar Man made no answer, but he quickened his steps a little. He
thought of Faith's strange manner towards him and Peg's words seemed all
at once to have explained a great deal.

CHAPTER VII

Peg took control of the house as absolutely as if she had always been
its mistress, and, in spite of his dislike of her, Nicholas Forrester
felt a great sense of relief. She was capable, whatever else she might
not be, and he knew she was fond of Faith.

Before he left the house that night he had a little conversation with
her.

"Can you stay with my wife?" he asked.

Peg looked him up and down coolly.

"I suppose you've got so much money that you've forgotten that some
people have to earn their living," she said bluntly, but without
intentional insolence. "How do you suppose I'm going on if I stay here
for nothing?"

"I can make it worth your while," he said, speaking as bluntly as she
had spoken.

Peg laughed.

"Oh, well, if it's to be a business deal."

She told him what she earned at Heeler's, and asked double the amount
if she consented to stay with Faith.

"You won't be wanting me for long, anyway," she said, "so I'm for making
hay while the sun shines."

The Beggar Man gave her notes for the amount she asked without a word,
and a faint admiration crept into her blue eyes.

"Look here," she said, "are you acting on the square with Faith? That's
what I want to know."

The Beggar Man met her gaze steadily.

"Well, I married her, didn't I?" he asked.

"I know, but you've let her down in other ways; you never told her that
Heeler's belonged to you."

"That is no business of yours."

"Perhaps not," she agreed, "but you'll find it is of hers. She is only a
kid, and soft in some ways, but she can be hard as nails when she
chooses, beneath all that softness, and you'll find it out."

"Very well. I don't need you to tell me about it, anyway. Take care of
her--and the twins--that's all I ask of you."

"I shall take care of them right enough," she answered laconically.
"But not because you've paid me, but because I'm fond of them--see?"

She challenged him defiantly.

The Beggar Man smiled grimly.

"Oh, yes, I see," he said. "Well, good-night. I'll be round early
to-morrow to make arrangements."

Peg shut the door after him, and went back to Faith. The girl was awake,
and sitting up in bed with feverish eyes.

"Has