s. Egremont told us that our people are very good to us,' said
Annaple, 'and don't mean to send us out with nothing but a pack at our
backs. It is very kind in them and in you, Mr. Dutton, to take the
trouble of it! No, I'll not worry you with thanks. The great point
is, hope for something for Mark to do. That will keep up his spirits
best! Poor Mr. Greenleaf is so melancholy that it is all I can do to
keep him up to the mark.'

'I have been making inquiries, and I have three possible openings, but
I hardly like to lay them before you.'

'Oh, we are not particular about gentility! It is work we want, and if
it was anything where I could help that would be all the better! I'm
sure I only wonder there are so many as three. I think it is
somebody's doing. Ah! there's Mark,' and she flew out to meet him.
'Mark!' she said, on the little path, 'here's the good genius, with
three chances in his pocket. Keep him to luncheon. I've got plenty.
Poor old man, how hot you look! Go and cool in the drawing-room, while
I wash my son's face.'

And she disappeared into the back regions, while Mark, the smile she
had called up vanishing from his face, came into the drawing-room, and
held out a cordial, thankful hand to his friend, whose chief
intelligence was soon communicated. 'Yes,' said Mark, when he heard
the amount entrusted by the family to Mr. Dutton, 'that will save all
my wife's poor little household gods. Not that I should call them so,
for I am sure she does not worship them. I don't know what would
become of me if she were like poor Mrs. Greenleaf, who went into
hysterics when the bailiff arrived, and has kept her room ever since. I
sometimes feel as if nothing could hurt us while Annaple remains what
she is.'

Mr. Dutton did not wonder that he said so, when she came in leading her
little son, with his sunny hair newly brushed and shining, and carrying
a little bouquet for the guest of one La Marque rosebud and three
lilies of the valley.

'Take it to Mr. Dutton, Billy-boy; I think he knows how the flowers
came into the garden. You shall have daddy's button-hole to take to
him next. There, Mark, it is a pansy of most smiling countenance, such
as should beam on you through your accounts. I declare, there's that
paragon of a Mr. Jones helping Bessy to bring in dinner! Isn't it very
kind to provide a man-servant for us?'

It might be rattle, and it might be inconsequent, but it was much
pleasanter than h