"You look quite perky about something," she said. "It is good for any of us to be cheerful just now. What's up?"
"Where's Grannie?" said Dave. "I'd like to tell her first."
"Oh, very well, just as you please. But she is out. She won't be back for a good bit yet."
"Aint it very late for her to be out? Where is she gone?"
"To Bayswater—to talk to a clergyman who used to befriend us in the old days. What is your news, David? You may as well tell me."
"Why, it's this. Mr. Watson has just had a long talk with me. He wants me to help him with the accounts, and not to do messages any more. He could get a lad for messages, he says, who hasn't got such a head on his shoulders as I have. I can do bookkeeping pretty well, and he'll give me some more lessons. I am to start next week doing office-work, and he'll give me five shillings a week instead of half a crown. I call that prime; don't you, Alison?"
"To be sure it is," she answered heartily. She was very fond of David, and the note of exultation in his voice touched her, and penetrated through the deep gloom at her heart.
"Why, this will cheer Grannie," she continued.
"There's more to tell yet," continued David, "for I am to have my meals as well as the five shillings a week; so there'll be half a crown at the very least to put to the family purse, Alison, and I need be no expense, only just to sleep here. I'll bring the five shillings to Grannie every Saturday night, and she can spend just what I want for clothes and keep the rest. I guess she'll make it go as far as anybody."
"This is good news," continued Alison. "Of course five shillings is a sight better nor nothing, and if I only got a place we might keep the home together."