“She said she'd help me get another place,” said Primmie, “and that I could stay here until I did get one, and all sorts of things like that. I told her I didn't want no other place and I didn't care a bit about the wages. I said I'd rather work here without a cent of wages. She said no, she wouldn't let me do that. If she couldn't pay me I couldn't work here. I said I could and I should and she said I couldn't and shouldn't. And--and we both cried and--and that's the way it ended. And that's why I come to you, Mr. Bangs. I CAN'T go away and leave her. I CAN'T, Mr. Bangs. She can't keep this whole house a-goin' without somebody to help. I've GOT to stay. You make her keep me, Mr. Bangs. I don't want no pay for it. I never was no hand to care for money, anyhow. Pa used to say I wan't. None of our folks was. Matter of that, we never had none to care for. But you make her keep me, Mr. Bangs.” She began to sob once more. Poor Galusha was very much distressed. The cause of Martha Phipps' worry was plain enough now. And her financial stress must be very keen indeed to cause her to take such drastic action as the discharge of Primmie the faithful. “You'll make her keep me, won't you, Mr. Bangs?” pleaded Primmie, once more. Galusha rubbed his chin. “Dear me,” he said, perplexedly, “I--Well, I shall be glad to do all I can, of course, but how I can make her keep you when she has made up her mind not to, I--really, I don't see. You don't think, do you,” he added, “that my being here is in any way responsible for a portion of Miss Phipps' financial trouble? You don't think it might be--ah--easier for her if I was to--ah--go?” Primmie shook her head. “Oh, no, no,” she declared, with decision, “You ain't a mite of bother, Mr. Bangs. I've heard Miss Martha say more'n a dozen times what a nice man you was and how easy 'twas to provide for you. She likes you, Miss Martha does, and I do, too. Even when we thought you was an undertaker huntin' 'round for remains we liked you just the same.” Galusha could not help feeling a certain satisfaction in this whole-hearted declaration. It was pleasant to learn that he was liked and that his hostess considered him a nice man. “Thank you, Primmie,” he said. “But what I meant was--was--Well, I pay what seems to me a ridiculously small sum for board and lodging. I begged to be allowed to pay more, but Miss Phipps wouldn't permit it. Now I am sure she must be losing money in the transaction and if I were to go--ah--elsewhere perhaps it might be--ah--easier for her. Candidly, don't you think so, Primmie?”