"I'm sure they'd all thank you kindly, sir," began Martha, when--"I'm sorry," said Claire coldly, "I can't go." Mr. Ronald did not urge her. "It is early. We have plenty of time to discuss the ride later," he observed quietly. "Meanwhile, what I have in mind, Martha, is this: Mr. Slawson has been at the Sanatorium now for--?" "Goin' on five months," said Martha. "And the doctors think him improved?" "Well, on the whole, yes, sir. His one lung (sounds kinder Chineesy, don't it?), his one lung ain't no worse--it's better some--only he keeps losin' flesh an' that puzzles'm." "Do you think he is contented there?" "He says he is. He says it's the grand place, an' they're all as good to'm as if he was the king o' Harlem. _You_ seen to that, sir--he says. An' Sam, he's always pationate, no matter what comes, but--" "Well--_but_?" "But--only just, it ain't _home_, you know, sir!" "I see. And the doctors think he ought to stay up there? Not return home--_here_, I mean?" "That's what they say." "Have you--the means to keep him at the Sanatorium over the five months we settled for in January?" "No, sir. That is, not--not _yet_." "Would you like to borrow enough money to see him through the rest of the year?" Martha deliberated. "I may _have_ to, sir," she said at last with a visible effort. "But I don't like to borrer. I notice when folks gets the borrerin'-habit they're slow payin' back, an' then you don't get thanks for a gift or you don't get credit for a loan." This time it was Mr. Ronald who seemed to be considering. "Right!" he announced presently. "I notice you go into things rather deep, Martha." Mrs. Slawson smiled. "Well, when things _is_ deep, that's the way you got to go into them. What's on your plate you got to chew, an' if you don't like it, you can lump it, an' if you don't like to lump it, you can cut it up finer. But there it _is_, an' there it stays, till you swaller it, somehow." "Do you enjoy or resent the good things that are, or seem to be, heaped on other people's plates?" "Why, yes. Certaintly I enjoy 'em. But, after all, the things taste best that we're eatin' ourselves, don't they? An' if I had money enough like some, so's I didn't have to borrer to see my man through, why, I don't go behind the door to say I'd be glad an' grateful." "Would you take the money as a gift, Martha?" "You done far more than your share already, sir."