"I do not know, but I shall scarcely be able to pay her, dearly as I should love to have her with me. She has been so devoted, so helpful in every way, and I have learned to love her very dearly."
"Then I should not be in haste to let her go."
"Can I afford to keep up this place with Parthy and Ira?"
"For the present it appears to me the best plan. I think you should do everything possible to establish your health before taking up the problem of a changed manner of life."
"And the doctor's bills, the druggist?"
"I will attend to them when I settle up the estate. Do not give yourself any uneasiness about those things."
"How good you are," sighed Nancy. "I feel much more hopeful, much easier in my mind. I thought it was wrong to let things go, but it is a relief not to grapple with difficulties just yet. I cannot tell you what a help you are, the one person who knows all, whose advice I can rely upon."
Mr. Weed drew himself up stiffly and moistened his dry lips, frowning the while, moved to the soul by the girl's words, yet fearing to show his emotion. "I trust you will not fail to confide in me and ask my advice whenever you desire," he said even more coldly than usual.
"And if I find I must go to work you will help me find something to do?"
He smiled in a manner which one who did not know him well might consider sarcastic, but the smile brought to Nancy only added assurance of his desire to befriend her. "You must get strong and well before we talk about that," he said.