"I suppose the only way is to keep on as you begin—keep your eyes open and take everything in sight," I continued lightly.
"It depends on how much you want, perhaps."
"I want pretty much all that I can get," I retorted quickly, my eyes roving over the rich room, with an idea that I might like to put Sarah in some such place as this.
Mrs. Dround laughed a long, low laugh, as though she were speculating why I was what I was.
"Well, you are strong enough, my friend, I see. As for Sarah, love her and don't look for what you can't find."
Just then we heard Sarah's laugh. She came into the room with Mr. Dround, a smile kindling graciously all over her face. The two women, as they kissed each other, made a picture—the dark head against the light one. Then Mrs. Dround gave Sarah a cool, motherly pat on the cheek, saying:—
"I have been offering your young man some advice, Sarah."
"He doesn't need it!" Sarah answered in a flash.
"Well, I don't know that he does," Mrs. Dround laughed back, kissing her again. Every one loved Sarah in the same protecting way! Soon after this Mr. Dround came up, smiling genially at the women's talk, and gave me his hand.
I had not seen the chief out of business hours before. I had never thought him much of a business man in the office, and here, in his own house, with his pictures and books and curios, he was about the last person any one would believe spent his days over in Packington.