health. She did not speak for a moment, but her eyes took me in from
head to heel.

I felt confident in the knowledge that the figure I presented was
decidedly more pleasing than when last she had seen me.

I was glad, for I knew, even with my small acquaintance with the
opposite sex, that the woman is not alive who does not prefer to see a
man clean, tidy and neat.

I pushed the store doors open and followed her in.

Again, that bewitching little uplifting of the eyebrows; again the
alluring relaxation of her full lips; silent ways, apparently, of
expressing her pleasure. The appearance of my store, on this occasion,
met with her approval.

She laid aside her sunshade and handed me a long, neatly written list
of groceries which she required; not all, but most of which, I was able
to fill.

"Make up the bill,--please. I wish to pay it now. I shall not wait
until you make up the goods. If not too much trouble, would you----"

I was listening to the soft cadences of her voice, when she stopped.

She was leaning lightly with her elbow on the counter. I was on the
inner side, bending over my order book.

When her voice stopped, I felt that she was looking at the top of my
head. I raised my face suddenly and, to her, unexpectedly. For the
first time, I saw clearly into her eyes. My breath caught, as, like a
flash, I saw myself standing in the doorway of Modley Farm, along with
my old chum, Tom Tanner; his mother beside us, with her arms round our
shoulders; and I remembered the flippant conversation we had at that
time.

The young lady before me had eyes of a liquid, golden-brown, lighter in
colour than her hair, yet of wondrous depth and very attractive;
inexpressibly attractive.

I averted my gaze quickly, but not quickly enough for her to miss the
admiration I had so openly shown.

She picked up a tin from the counter and scanned the label.

"The delivery wagon is at your service, my lady," I put in lightly.

"Thank you!" she answered in relief.

I totted up the bill and handed it to her. "Eight dollars and
thirty-five cents," I said.

"Now, Mr. Bremner,--please add your charge for the conveying of my
piano, so that I may pay my debts altogether."

I gasped in amazement. I straightened myself indignantly, for the idea
of making a charge for that work had never entered my head. And I knew
Jake had never thought of such a thing either. It had been simply a
little neighbourly assistance.