of course--but I was always handy
with my needle, and by degrees I got a number of customers for
lace-mending and getting up ladies' fine lawn and muslin gowns. So
between us we made quite enough to live on--till he died." Her voice
sank--and she paused--then she added--"I've lived alone here ever
since."

He listened attentively.

"And that is all your history, Mary? What of your mother?" he asked.

Mary's eyes softened and grew wistful.

"Mother died when I was ten,"--she said--"But though I was so little, I
remember her well. She was pretty--oh, so very pretty! Her hair was
quite gold like the sun,--and her eyes were blue--like the sea. Dad
worshipped her, and he never would say that she was dead. He liked to
think that she was always with him,--and I daresay she was. Indeed, I am
sure she was, if true love can keep souls together."

He was silent.

"Are you tired, David?" she asked, with sudden anxiety,--"I'm afraid I'm
talking too much!"

He raised a hand in protest.

"No--no! I--I love to hear you talk, Mary! You have been so good to
me--so more than kind--that I'd like to know all about you. But I've no
right to ask you any questions--you see I'm only an old, poor man, and
I'm afraid I shall never be able to do much in the way of paying you
back for all you've done for me. I used to be clever at office
work--reading and writing and casting up accounts, but my sight is
failing and my hands tremble,--so I'm no good in that line. But whatever
I _can_ do for you, as soon as I'm able, I will!--you may depend upon
that!"

She leaned towards him, smiling.

"I'll teach you basket-making,"--she said--"Shall I?"

His eyes lit up with a humorous sparkle.

"If I could learn it, should I be useful to you?" he asked.

"Why, of course you would! Ever so useful! Useful to me and useful to
yourself at the same time!" And she clapped her hands with pleasure at
having thought of something easy upon which he could try his energies;
"Basket-making pays well here,--the farmers want baskets for their
fruit, and the fishermen want baskets for their fish,--and its really
quite easy work. As soon as you're a bit stronger, you shall begin--and
you'll be able to earn quite a nice little penny!"

He looked stedfastly into her radiant face.

"I'd like to earn enough to pay you back all the expense you've been put
to with me,"--he said, and his voice trembled--"But your patience and
goodness--that--I can never hope to pay