won't listen to it! I'm
glad you're fond of me--it makes life so much pleasanter. Do you know, I
sometimes think God must have sent you to me?"

"Do you? Why?"

"Well, I used to fret a little at being so much alone,--the days seemed
so long, and it was hard to have to work only for one's wretched self,
and see nothing in the future but just the same old round--and I missed
my father always. I never could get accustomed to his empty chair. Then
when I found you on the hills, lost and solitary, and ill, and brought
you home to nurse and take care of, all the vacancy seemed filled--and I
was quite glad to have some one to work for. I've been ever so much
happier since you've been with me. We'll be like father and daughter to
the end, won't we?"

She put one arm about him coaxingly. He did not answer.

"You won't go away from me now,--will you, David?" she urged--"Even when
you've paid me back all you owe me as you wish by your own earnings, you
won't go away?"

He lifted his head and looked at her as she bent over him.

"You mustn't ask me to promise anything,"--he said, "I will stay with
you--as long as I can!"

She withdrew her arm from about him, and stood for a moment irresolute.

"Well--I shall be very miserable if you do go,"--she said--"And I'm sure
no one will take more care of you than I will!"

"I'm sure of that, too, Mary!" and a smile that was almost youthful in
its tenderness brightened his worn features--"I've never been so well
taken care of in all my life before! Mr. Reay thinks I am a very lucky
old fellow."

"Mr. Reay!" She echoed the name--and then, stooping abruptly towards the
fire, began to make it up afresh. Helmsley watched her intently.

"Don't you like Mr. Reay?" he asked.

She turned a smiling face round upon him.

"Why, of course I like him!" she answered--"I think everyone in
Weircombe likes him."

"I wonder if he'll ever marry?" pursued Helmsley, with a meditative air.

"Ah, I wonder! I hope if he does, he'll find some dear sweet little girl
who will really love him and be proud of him! For he's going to be a
great man, David!--a great and famous man some day!"

"You think so?"

"I'm sure of it!"

And she lifted her head proudly, while her blue eyes shone with
enthusiastic fervour. Helmsley made a mental note of her expression, and
wondered how he could proceed.

"And you'd like him to marry some 'dear sweet little girl'"--he went on,
reflectively--"I'll tell him that