"But I can't always go on waiting," continued Mr. Grayson; "and I can't have all the rest of my property injured. That would not be reasonable. However, I am interested in you, Nelly, for your own sake. I have been making inquiries about you. Mrs. Kirkland tells me that you are very industrious and persevering about your work, that you are perfectly honest and extremely desirous to improve. The neighbours tell me the same thing,—that you are honest and punctual in your dealings about your milk, always giving good quality and good measure."
Mr. Grayson paused and looked at Nelly, who blushed high at the praise, while she wondered at what might be coming next.
"I have been thinking over the whole matter," continued Mr. Grayson, once more; "and I have come to this conclusion. I shall let you keep the place, and not ask you for any money, either principal or interest, for a year, on the following conditions."
Nelly listened with all her ears and all her mind.
"You shall lay out all the money you have in hand in repairs upon the house and the place. Mr. Vandake will do the work for you as reasonably as any one. He works for me, and will follow my directions. That is the first condition. Do you understand it?"
"Yes, sir," said Nelly.
"In the second place, having put the place in order, you shall keep it in order. You shall keep the yard clean, both before and behind. You shall not throw your dish-water and slops on the top of the ground or into the street. You shall not scatter swill about. You shall keep the cow tied up in her own part of the yard when she is not running out; and, next spring, you shall either cultivate the garden or put it into grass. You shall keep the windows mended and the fence whole. On these conditions, and no other, you shall keep the place; and you shall not be asked to pay any thing upon it till the first day of next November,—that is, about a year from this time."
"But if I have the money, I should like to pay," Nelly ventured to say.
Mr. Grayson smiled. "Oh, very well. You may make a payment upon the first day of May, if you have ten or twenty dollars to spare. Now, Nelly, I expect you to keep strictly to these conditions; for I intend to do so myself; and I shall not feel myself bound by my part of the bargain unless you keep to yours. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, sir," said Nelly; "and I will do my best. But—"