But Lettie puts her hand softly into Mr. John’s hand, and begins to answer, with many tears, his questions about Harry; and tells him how Martha is to do everything that Harry wanted to be done, and that they are all to work at the “opening,” and Katie Calder is to stay at Allenders; but neither of them are to go to school at Blaelodge any more. Violet does not quite know what makes her so confidential, and has a compunction even while she speaks, and thinks Martha would not be pleased--but yet she speaks on. “And we’re all to be busy and work at the opening; for Martha says we need not think shame,” said Lettie; “and Katie and me will be able to help to keep the house, Mr. John; and Rose says it’s better to work than be idle, and it keeps away ill thoughts; but I like best to think it’s lane, without working, or to read books--only I’ve read all the books in Allenders, and I’m no to be idle any more.” “You see I’m aye idle yet, Lettie,” said John. “Oh yes; but then you never need--and you’ve aye been,” said Lettie, hastily; for to Lettie Mr. John was an institution, and his idleness was part of himself--a thing quite beyond discussion, and unchangeable. But a burning blush came over John Rodger’s face, in the darkness, and Lettie saw instinctively that his feelings were wounded. This brought upon her a strange embarrassment; and while anxiously casting about for something to say, which should change this painful subject, she fell into a shy silence--which was only broken at last by Mr. John himself. “No, Lettie, I have not been always idle, and I _have_ need,” said the roused man; “and when I hear a little thing like you speaking about work, and helping to keep a house, it makes me think shame of myself, Lettie. You and your sisters, that might be so different, working for your bread--and me this way!” “Ay, but Miss Jeanie and Miss Aggie work more than we do,” said Lettie, simply. For always it is the angel from heaven, miraculous and strange, and not the daily revelations of Moses and the prophets, which these bewitched natures think will rouse them. Miss Jeanie and Miss Aggie, with all their little vanities, had hearts sincere in this point, and full of gracious unconscious humility. _They_ never reminded the idler, that they worked for him; never thought that they were pinched and restrained, in the ostentations they held so dear, because “Johnnie” hung a burden on their hands; never speculated, indeed, on the question at all, nor dreamed of giving reasons to themselves for the spontaneous natural impulse, which made this self-sacrifice unawares. And he himself never realized it either; but he was struck with the devotion of Martha and her household. This, unusual, strange--a thing he did not see every day--moved him; the other had scarcely occurred to him when Lettie spoke.