"You must help me to-night, and after to-morrow, we shall be straight. Why have you let things get so bad?"
"Why? Because those old fools, Mary and John, have fought half the village, and told me that there was no one fit to black my shoes for four miles round! They've refused to have outside help, and your grandpater has backed them up. Truth is, Mary is too old for the job; she ought to be in an almshouse."
"She is ill with worry," said Jean. "I believe she has a lot of work in her yet."
"Oh, it will be all right now you're here! As I told the governor, you never ought to have left him!"
"I was the best judge of that," said Jean a little stiffly.
"Don't sit up so! He ought to have given you a studio, and taken a pride in your performances. Take my word for it, my dear girl, it's a bad policy to have no relations at your back. I'm jolly glad you're home again in your rightful place."
"But," said Jean, with a blank look at him, "I am not going to stay here."
He gave her a wink.
"Don't you fret yourself! We'll settle it up in a very satisfactory way for all parties concerned!"
Jean said no more.