The small shrewd-faced man who waited on Dale Bannister appeared. He was pushing a wheelbarrow before him. "Wheel it into the passage," said Philip; "and then go. And, mind, not a word!" Wilson looked insulted. "I don't talk, sir," said he. Philip returned to the room. "Mrs. Roberts," he said, "listen to me. I am a friend of your husband's. Will you let me help you?" "Indeed, I need no help." "I know you are frozen," he went on; "and--where is the servant?" "She has left. I--I haven't got another yet," she faltered. "In the passage," Philip went on, "there is a wheelbarrow. It holds coals, food, and drink. It's for you." She started up. "I can't--indeed I can't! Jim wouldn't like it." "Jim be hanged! I'll settle with him. You're to take them. Do you hear?" She did not answer. He walked up to her and put a little canvas bag in her hands. "There's money. No, take it. I shall keep an account." "I really don't need it." "You do--you know you do. How much money has he left you?" She laid her hand on his arm. "He's not himself, he isn't indeed, Mr. Hume, or he wouldn't----" "No, of course he isn't. So I do what he would, if he were himself. You were going to starve." "He will be angry." "Then don't tell him. He'll never notice. Now, will he?" "He notices nothing now," she said. "And you'll take them? Come, think of what's-his-name--the baby, you know." "You're too kind to me." "Nonsense! Of course we look after you, Mrs. Roberts." "Mr. Hume, do you think--what do you think is the matter with Jim?" "Oh, I think he's an old fool, Mrs. Roberts, and you may tell him so from me. No, no, he'll be all right in a week or two. Meanwhile, we're going to make you and Tommy--oh, Johnny, is it?--comfortable." He did not leave her till she had consented to accept all he offered; then he went back to Littlehill. "I think, Dale," he said, "Roberts must be mad. He left his wife and child starving." "Did she take the things?" "Yes; I made her." "That's all right. What a strange beggar he is! He can't be quite right in his head." "Fancy that poor little woman left like that!" "Horrible!" said Dale, with a shudder. "At any rate we can prevent that. I'm so glad you thought of it." "Old Hedger told me they had ordered nothing for three days." "How the deuce does Hedger know everything?" "It's lucky he knew this, isn't it?" "By Jove, it is! Because, you know, Phil, I feel a kind of responsibility." "Nonsense, Dale! Not really?" "Oh, you needn't laugh. Of course I couldn't know the man was a sort of lunatic. One doesn't write for lunatics." "Perhaps they ought to be considered, being so numerous." "However, it's all right now. Awfully obliged to you, Phil." "I wonder if he'll come back." "Roberts? Why shouldn't he?" "I don't know, but he's quite capable of just cutting the whole concern." "I think he's capable of anything." "Except appreciating 'Amor Patriæ,' eh?"