And do you think we can do that, Mary ?" "We can try!" she said, smiling--"At any rate, while he's living in Wiercombe, we can be friendly to him, and give him a bit of dinner now and then!" "So we can!" agreed Helmsley--"Or rather, so _you_ can!" "_We!_" corrected Mary--"_You're_ helping me to keep house now, David,--remember that!" "Why I haven't paid half or a quarter of my debt to you yet!" he exclaimed.
"But you're paying it off every day,"-- she answered; "Don't you fear! I mean to have every penny out of you that I can!" She laughed gaily, and taking up the tray upon which she had packed all the tea-things, carried it out of the kitchen.

Helmsley heard her singing softly to herself in the scullery, as she set to work to wash the cups and saucers.

And bending his old eyes on the fire, he smiled,--and an indomitable expression of energetic resolve strengthened every line of his features.
"You mean to have every penny out of me that you can, my dear, do you!" he said, softly--"And so--if Love can find out the way--you will!".