"The claim of gratitude?" Margaret suggested; "or of mere humanity?"
"As for gratitude, haven't we repaid her for her ten years' service for us by our thirty years of taking care of her?"
"Taking care of her?"
"We've never charged her a cent of rent for the only home she has had for thirty years."
"Why wouldn't you let her stay here to-night?"
"Because we don't want to start that kind of thing, or she'd be here on our hands all the time. Once we take her in, we'll never be able to shake her off, and we don't want her."
"I see."
"Of course you see. Now give me a kiss, and promise me you will turn over a new leaf and not be so stubborn about the care of the babies and about Catherine Hamilton and about all the other little matters in which you tease me so that I've got indigestion!" he said fretfully.
"I act only as I must, Daniel," said Margaret sadly. "It gives me worse than indigestion!"
"Look at Hiram's Lizzie! She never antagonizes the girls the way you do!" he complained, genuine anxiety in his voice.