It was more than a mere gasp of temporary relief with him, and his wife shared his optimism; but Mary would not let him buy back her piano, and as for furs--spring was on the way, she said.

But they paid the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick-maker, and hired a cook once more.

It was this servitress who opened the door for Sheridan and presently assured him that Miss Vertrees would "be down." He was not the man to conceal admiration when he felt it, and he flushed and beamed as Mary made her appearance, almost upon the heels of the cook.

She had a look of apprehension for the first fraction of a second, but it vanished at the sight of him, and its place was taken in her eyes by a soft brilliance, while color rushed in her cheeks.
"Don't be surprised," he said.

"Truth is, in a way it's sort of on business I looked in here.