--and a sudden brightness flashed up in Helmsley's sunken eyes,
making them look almost young--"And I understand! I understand that
though I am poor and old, and a stranger to you,--you are giving me
friendship such as rich men often seek for and never find!--and I will
try,--yes, I will try, God helping me,--to be worthy of your trust! If I
stay with you----"

"There must be no 'if' in the case, David!" said Mary, smiling up at
him.

He stroked her bright hair caressingly.

"Well, then, I will put it not 'if,' but as long as I stay with you," he
answered--"as long as I stay with you, I will do all I can to show you
how grateful I am to you,--and--and--I will never give you cause"--here
he spoke more slowly, and with deliberate emphasis--"I will never give
you cause to regret your confidence in me! I want you both to be
glad--not sorry--that you spared a lonely old man a little of your
affection!"

"We _are_ glad, David!"--and Mary, as he lifted his hand from her head,
caught it and kissed it lightly. "And we shall never be sorry! And here
is Charlie"--and she picked up the little dog as she spoke and fondled
it playfully,--"wondering why he is not included in the family party!
For, after all, it is quite your affair, isn't it, Charlie? _You_ were
the cause of my finding David out on the hills!--and David was the cause
of my knowing Angus--so if it hadn't been for _you_, nothing would have
happened at all, Charlie!--and I should have been a lonely old maid all
the days of my life! And I can't do anything to show my gratitude to
you, you quaint wee soul, but give you a saucer of cream!"

She laughed, and springing up, began to prepare the tea. While she was
moving quickly to and fro on this household business, Helmsley beckoned
Reay to come closer to him.

"Speak frankly, Mr. Reay!" he said. "As the master of her heart, you are
the master of her home. I can easily slip away--and tramping is not such
hard work in summer time. Shall I go?"

"If you go, I shall start out and bring you back again," replied Reay,
shaking his head at him determinedly. "You won't get so far but that I
shall be able to catch you up in an hour! Please consider that you
belong to us,--and that we have no intention of parting with you!"

Tears rose in Helmsley's eyes, and for a moment he covered them with his
hand. Angus saw that he was deeply moved, and to avoid noticing him,
especially as he was somewhat affected himself by the touching