matter with the
chimney," and he hastened up to the attic room, removed the clog from
the flue, put on the cover again, and threw open the window.
Returning, he locked the door of the room which Mrs. Mumpson had
occupied and came downstairs. "I must get a ladder and examine the
chimney," he said as he passed.

"Oh, my dear Mr. Holcroft!" the widow began.

"Can't talk with you yet," and he hastened on.

"As soon as he's sure the house is safe, Jane, all will be well."

But the girl had grown hopeless and cynical. She had not penetrated
his scheme to restore her mother to health, but understood the man well
enough to be sure that her mother's hopes would end as they had in the
past. She sat down apathetically on the trunk to see what would happen
next.

After a brief inspection Holcroft came down from the roof and said,
"The chimney will have to be repaired," which was true enough and
equally so of other parts of the dwelling. The fortunes of the owner
were reflected in the appearance of the building.

If it were a possible thing Holcroft wished to carry out his ruse
undetected, and he hastened upstairs again, ostensibly to see that all
danger had passed, but in reality to prepare his mind for an intensely
disagreeable interview. "I'd rather face a mob of men than that one
idiotic woman," he muttered. "I could calculate the actions of a
setting hen with her head cut off better than I can this widow's. But
there's no help for it," and he came down looking very resolute. "I've
let the fire in my stove go out, and there's no more danger," he said
quietly, as he sat down on the porch opposite Mrs. Mumpson.

"Oh-h," she exclaimed, with a long breath of relief, "we've saved the
dwelling. What would we have done if it had burned down! We would
have been homeless."

"That may be my condition soon, as it is," he said coldly. "I am very
glad, Mrs. Mumpson, that you are so much better. As Jane told you, I
suppose, I will pay you the sum I agreed to give you for three months'
service--"

"My dear Mr. Holcroft, my nerves have been too shaken to talk business
this morning," and the widow leaned back and looked as if she were
going to faint. "I'm only a poor lone woman," she added feebly, "and
you cannot be so lacking in the milk of human kindness as to take
advantage of me."

"No, madam, nor shall I allow you and Lemuel Weeks to take advantage of
me. This is my house and I have a right to make my own arrangements."