"It's been a kind old year!"—she said—"It brought you to me to take care of, and me to you to take care of you—didn't it?"
He laid one hand on hers, tremblingly, but was silent. She turned up her kind, sweet face to his.
"You're not tired, are you?"
He shook his head.
"No, my dear, no!"
A rush and a clang of melody swept suddenly through the open door—the bells had begun again.
"A Happy New Year, Miss Mary!" said Angus, looking towards her from where he stood on the threshold—"And to you, David!"
With an irrepressible movement of tenderness Helmsley raised his trembling hands and laid them gently on Mary's head.
"Take an old man's blessing, my dear!" he said, softly, "And from a most grateful heart!"
She caught his hands as he lifted them again from her brow, and kissed them. There were tears in her eyes, but she brushed them quickly away.