“Oh, I've always felt that way,” he said jauntily. “I never expected you to marry me. I expected to marry you. And I still expect to. And I'm going to.” He smiled at her. “But, wait,” she said, “I tell you--” “Did you ever know me to fail in anything I ever attempted?” he asked. She said nothing. “Well, I do, plenty of times,” he laughed, “but this is not one of them.” “You'll find that it is one of them,” she said, meaning it, too, but he did not seem to worry about it. Miss Susan, since her interview with Johnnie Alberson, had been exceedingly cold to Henrietta, merely tolerating her. Now, when Henrietta turned into the house, Miss Susan was waiting for her in the hall. “Well, Henrietta,” she said, “I must say I'm thankful, it coming just at this time when, goodness knows! I'm hard enough put to it to make ends meet. And I will say I never expected to get it. So I'm thankful.” She handed Henrietta two slips of paper. Henrietta stared at them with amazement, for one was a receipt “in full to date,” and the other a receipt, “for board, in advance, to October 8th.” “I don't say I've figured it exactly right,” said Miss Susan, “but I 'll make right what ain't right. And as for Mr. Todder's receipt--” “But why? What do you mean?” asked Henrietta. “Why are you giving me these?” “I give because I'm asked to,” said Miss Susan a trifle tartly. “But the money! I did not pay you any money.” “Nor did you,” said Miss Susan, “although I might well suppose you knew it had been given. Mr. Alberson--” Henrietta colored. “Did he dare pay this?” she asked angrily. “He dared hand it over, as he had been told to do and as it was his duty to do,” said Miss Susan. “It's infamous! He had no right--” “Right or no right was not for him to say,” Miss Susan said. “When your own husband sent the money--” “Freeman? Freeman sent money? That's nonsense! Freeman sent the money to Mr. Alberson? That's absurd!” “Absurd or not absurd it was so sent,” said Miss Susan, “and I only hope he came by it honestly; but that is no concern of mine. Paid I am, to date and more than to date, and properly grateful, I must say.” Henrietta folded the two receipts slowly. “Very well!” she said. She was furious, but she had no desire to quarrel over the matter with Miss Susan. She would let Johnnie Alberson know, however, that such things could not be done. It was, as she had said, infamous. It was effrontery such as she had never imagined possible. She longed to rush to Johnnie's shop immediately and tell him so. Of course, however, that would not do. She must wait until he came. She was interrupted by Gay and Lorna, who came down the stairs. “Going for a walk,” Gay said. “Put on a hat and come, Henrietta.” Henrietta slipped the receipts into her waist and took her hat from the hall rack. A walk with Gay and Lorna just then suited her well. They went up the hill, and turned, going toward the country.