That evening, Ann Packet, bringing in the supper to her master, was startled by the question which he put to her. "How is Mattie looking, Ann?" "Looking, sir!" "Has all this watching, studying my eccentricities, affected her?" "She's a little pale mayhap--but she has allus been pale since her last illness." "I never gave a thought as to the effect which the constant study of a monomaniac might produce upon her," he said half abruptly; "but she's quit of me now, and will improve." "Oh! she was well enough here--like a bird chirping about the house--Mattie likes something to do for some one. An extrornary girl, Master Sidney, as was ever sent to be a blessing unto all she took to." "Yes--an extraordinary girl. Sit down." "No--it isn't for the likes of me to do that here, sir." "Sit down, and tell me what you think of her. We don't study appearances in trouble--and a blind man loves the sound of a woman's voice." "Then you have altered werry much, sir." "Yes--thanks to Mattie again." "And to think that she was a little ragged gal about the streets, sir. Many and many a time have I crept to the door after shop was shut, and given her the odd pieces I could find, and she was allus grateful for 'em." "Always grateful--who can doubt that?" "She was waiting for the pieces when you came home and lost that brooch--poor ignorant thing, then, sir!" "Through you then, Ann, we first knew Mattie Gray. Strangely things come round!" "Ah! you don't know half her goodness, sir--she's just as kind to anybody who wants kindness--_just_." "Yes, it is like her!" "It's a pity her father isn't less of a fidget--she ought to have had a better un than that, or have never lighted on him, I think." "Is she not happy with him, then?" "She may be, she mayn't--but he _is_ a fidget, and Mattie ought to have some one to take care of her now, and make her happy--like." "A husband, you mean?" "Yes, I think so." "Sit down, Ann. Perhaps you know of some one who is likely to take care of Mattie in the way you think?" "I don't know." "Some one who calls and sees her, and in whom she is interested?" "Oh! no--no one calls to see _her_," said Ann, "her father's jealous of her liking anybody save himself. I saw that long ago." "I should like to see--ah, ha! _to see!_" he cried--"Mattie happy. She deserves it." "Those who think so little of theirselves seldom find happiness though--do they, sir?" Sidney started at the axiom--it was deeper than Ann Packet's general run of observations. "There are so few of those good folk in the world, Ann." "Mattie's one." "Yes--Mattie's one!" he repeated. "I've often wondered and a-wondered what would make her happy; do you know, sir, sometimes I think that--that _you_ might, if you'll excuse an ignorant woman saying so." "That I might!--what has made you think that? Sit down--why _don't_ you sit down!"