Anne Thorpe remained in Europe for a year, returning to New York shortly before the breaking out of the Great War. She went to the Ritz, where she took an apartment. A day or two after her arrival in the city, she sent for Wade. "Wade," she said, as the old valet stood smirking before her in the little sitting-room, "I have decided not to re-open the house. I shall never re- open it. I do not intend to live there." The man turned a sickly green. His voice shook a little. "Are—are you going to close it—for good,—madam?" "I sent for you this morning to inquire if you are willing to continue living there as caretaker until—" "You may depend on me, Mrs. Thorpe, to—" he broke in eagerly. "—until I make up my mind what to do with the property," she concluded. He hesitated, clearing his throat. "I beg pardon for mentioning it, ma'am, but the will said that you would have to live in the house and that you may not sell it or do anything—" "I know," she interrupted shortly. "I sha'n't sell the house, of course. On the other hand, I do not intend to live in it. I don't care what becomes of it, Wade." "It's worth a great deal of money," he ventured. She was not interested. "But so am I," she said curtly. "By the way, how have you fared, Wade? You do not look as though you have made the best of your own good fortune. Are you not a trifle thinner?" The man looked down at the rug. "I am quite well, thank you. A little older, of course,—that's all. I haven't had a sick day in years." "Why do you stay on in service? You have means of your own,—quite a handy fortune, I should say. I cannot understand your willingness, to coop yourself up in that big old house, when you might be out seeing something of life, enjoying your money and—you are a very strange person, Wade." He favoured her with his twisted smile. "We can't all be alike, madam," he said. "Besides, I couldn't see very much of life with my small pot of gold. I shall always stick to my habit, I suppose, of earning my daily bread." "I see. Then I may depend upon you to remain in charge of the house? Whenever you are ready to give it up, pray do not hesitate to come to me. I will release you, of course." "I may possibly live to be ninety," he said, encouragingly. She stared. "You mean—that you will stay on until you die?" "Seeing that you cannot legally sell the house,—and you will not live in it,—I hope to be of service to you to the end of my days, madam. Have you considered the possibility of some one setting up a claim to the property on account of your—er—violation of the terms of the will?" "I should be very happy if some one were to do so, Wade," she replied with a smile. "I should not oppose the claim. Unfortunately there is no one to take the step. There are no disgruntled relatives." "Ahem! Mr. Braden, of course, might—er—be regarded as a—" "Dr. Thorpe will not set up a claim, Wade. You need not be disturbed."