"It's strange how kindness brings one a sense of loneliness. I have to settle my life apart from you two, for your one idea is to give, and I am a bad taker; Waddy tells me I am. I will not take from you, Cousin Thorold." "But this is not a gift. It is an exchange for your services. And remember it belonged to your cousin Charles, and do you know I am a little afraid of ghosts?" "Are you? How interesting! I think I'm rather fond of them. At least I should be if I saw any. It would be so uplifting and mystical. Whose ghost do you fear?" "Your cousin Charles. He might be very angry if I did not act towards you as he would have done." "Oh, he's an unknown person to me." Gentian was standing in the doorway as she talked. "Hush!" she said suddenly, putting her finger on her lip. A pert little robin hopping about the tiled path flew past her into the house. He perched himself on an oak chest in the tiny hall and lifting up his voice burst into ecstatic song. Gentian's pathetic face was instantly illumined with sunshine. "The darling! That settles it. I'll be your organist, Cousin Thorold, and come here to-morrow, if you like. Waddy will have to find the money to live here. I shan't want much in the way of food if I have music and robins and flowers to feed me, and I shall try to earn money at once. I shall have my car, and I'll take it to the station at Winderball every morning on the chance of picking up passengers." "That's settled then. St. Anselm's Vicarage is to be your new home." There was relief in Thorold's tone, and Mrs. Wharnecliffe smiled. "You will be near enough, dear, for me to see you very often," she said affectionately. "And I shall be still nearer Cousin Thorold," said Gentian with a doubtful look at him, "but he has assured me he never wants to see me." "I shall be close at hand if you get into difficulties," said Thorold quickly. They were out in the garden now. Gentian was on her knees in a moment, picking some daffodils from a bed under the window, and sticking them in her belt. "It's a darling little sunny home," she said. And then she relapsed into silence until they had walked up the road and reached the Manor. Here Mrs. Wharnecliffe's car was waiting for them. "Well," said Thorold, smiling at Gentian, "you must write to Miss Ward and tell her that you like the idea of living in the Vicarage. And you can settle in as soon as you like." "Yes," said Gentian, putting a hand on his coat sleeve and speaking very earnestly, "Waddy and I will be very happy here, if you will promise to leave us alone. It sounds rude, but I dread being managed by a man, and being pestered by his ideas of propriety and convention. I must live my life apart from your protection and care. I thank you with all my heart for giving Waddy and me this home. But your kindness and generosity must stop here. Let me feel that I am free in that house. Do not make it into a cage. Good-bye."