"Oh, it wasn’t that," David said quietly, as he unlocked the oak chest and took out the precious volumes and laid them on the table. In spite of himself, however, some of the old eagerness came over him, and he stood by, waiting anxiously for the historian’s approval. Hieronymus groaned over Mrs. Hemans’ poetry, and Locke’s "Human Understanding," and Defoe’s "History of the Plague," and Cowper, and Hannah More. He groaned inwardly, but outwardly he gave grunts of encouragement. He patted David on the shoulder when he found "Selections from Browning," and he almost caressed him when he proudly produced "Silas Marner." Yes, David was proud of his treasures; each one of them represented to him a whole world of love and hope and consolation. Hieronymus knew for whom the books were intended, and he was touched by the exciseman’s quiet devotion and pride. He would not have hurt David’s feelings on any account; he would have praised the books, however unsuitable they might have seemed to him. "My dear fellow," he said, "you’ve done capitally by yourself. You’ve chosen some excellent books. Still, this list may help you to go on, and I should advise you to begin with ’Green’s History of the English People.’" David put the volumes back into the oak chest. "I don’t think I care about buying any more," he said sadly. "It’s no use." "Why?" asked Hieronymus. David looked at the historian’s frank face, and felt the same confidence in him which all felt. He looked, and knew that this man was loyal and good. "Well, it’s just this," David said, quite simply. "I’ve loved her ever since she was a baby-child. She was my own little sweetheart then. I took care of her when she was a wee thing, and I wanted to look after her when she was a grown woman. It has just been the hope of my life to make Joan my wife." He paused a moment, and looked straight into the fire. "I know she is different from others, and cleverer than any of us here, and all that. I know she is always longing to get away from Little Stretton. But I thought that perhaps we might be happy together, and that then she would not want to go. But I’ve never been quite sure. I’ve just watched and waited. I’ve loved her all my life. When she was a wee baby I carried her about, and knew how to stop her crying. She has always been kinder to me than to any one else. It was perhaps that which helped me to be patient. At least, I knew she did not care for any one else. It was just that she didn’t seem to turn to any one." He had moved away from Hieronymus, and stood knocking out the ashes from his pipe. Hieronymus was silent. "At least, I knew she did not care for any one else," continued David, "until you came. Now she cares for you." Hieronymus looked up quickly. "Surely, surely, you must be mistaken," he said. David shook his head.