"I won't do that; I won't do that. I should be relieved of dealing with those questions. And, Stephen, my boy, I'd have a chance of a decent place to live in and of being able to put by my old age pension." They all entered eagerly into the discussion of these rosy dreams, and it was carried, _nem. con._, that Dick must build himself a 'week-end' cottage at Nether End, as near as might be to Shaylor's Patch. Perhaps Winnie could find one to suit her too! "And we'll all sit and jaw till the curtain falls!" cried Stephen Aikenhead, expressing his idea of a happy life. "Ye're good friends here, for all your nonsense," said Dennehy. "I'd ask no better." "Moreover, Dick, you can marry. You can tie yourself up, as Tora puts it, just as tightly as you like. Choose a woman, if possible, with some breadth of view. I want you to have your chance." "Oh, I'm not likely to be marrying." A cloud seemed to pass over his cheery face. But it was gone in a moment. "Well, who'd look at me, anyhow?" "I think you'd make an excellent husband, Dick," said Winnie. "I should marry you--yes, even tie you up--with the utmost confidence." He gave her a queer look, half-humorous, half-resentful. "Don't be saying such things, Winnie, or ye'll turn my head and destroy my peace of mind." "Oh, last time I flirted with you, you said you liked it!" she reminded him, laughing. On the way to the station, Winnie walked with her arm through his, for the evening had fallen dark, and the country road was rough. With a little pressure of her hand, she said, "I'm so glad--so glad--of the new prospects, Dick. I believe in you, you know, though we do differ so much." He was silent for a moment, and then asked abruptly, "And what prospects have you?" "Oh, I suppose I'm rather like the politician who had his future behind him. But I haven't made up my mind what to do. I'm living rather from hand to mouth just now, and taking a holiday from thinking." "Oh, I'll mind my own business, if that's what you mean." "Dick, how can you? Of course it wasn't. Please don't be huffy about nothing." "I'm worried about you. Don't let those people up at the Patch get at you again, Winnie--for pity's sake, don't! Take care of yourself, my dear. My heart bleeds to see you where you stand to-day, and if you got into any other trouble--you don't understand that you're a woman a man might do bad as well as good things for." Emotion was strong in his voice; Winnie lightly attributed it to his nationality. "Don't fret about me. I've got to pay for my blunders, and, if I've any sense at all, I shall be wiser in future." "If ye're ever inclined to another man, for God's sake try him, test him, prove him. Ye can't afford another mistake, Winnie. It'd kill you, wouldn't it?"