“Thank you, madam, thank you. I shall be glad to accept your hospitality for the dinner. In the meantime I think I will take a walk about your pleasant little village. By the way, there are two questions I always ask concerning a place: what is its latitude, and population?” and he looked from one to another. Miss Silence laughed. “I am afraid we can answer neither question.” “It doesn’t matter, I can judge of the latter myself.” And having enveloped himself again in his muffler, overcoat, cap, and gloves, he went briskly down the walk, his cane seeming more for ornament than need. Rose hurried out into the kitchen and putting on her gingham apron began to set the table. “I suppose now,” and Silence counted out the eggs to fry with the ham, “that I sha’n’t have you to help me much longer.” “Oh, Miss Silence,” and dropping the bread tray, Rose caught her around the waist and gave her a squeeze, “you know, you know, I never will go away from here as long as I may stay.” For Rose had been tossed to and fro like a shuttlecock at the mercy of adverse currents so long, that she felt not only some wonder but a little uneasiness as to what disposal would next be made of her. “It’s very nice, of course,” as she sliced the bread, “when I didn’t know that I had a relative to have Great-Uncle Samuel walk in, and I suppose he has the right to say where I shall go, and what I shall do. Only I’m so tired of changes and uncertainties that I wish I might never have to make another change; and I wish that I might know right now, right away, what I am going to do.” As for Mr. Samuel Jarvis, the surprising news of Rose’s existence, followed so quickly by her appearance before him in the flesh, was of itself bewildering, to say nothing of the responsibility so suddenly thrust upon him of making provision for her future. This was shown by a certain preoccupation of manner on his return. Not so much so but that his eyes, still keen and bright, noted everything around him; the well-appointed table, the delicately served food, the low tones and gentle manners of the group surrounding it, the air of order and comfort pervading the modest home. But it was not till he pushed back from the table after the meal that he mentioned the question of vital interest to Rose. “I’ve been thinking,” he spoke to Mrs. Blossom, tapping his cane on the floor as he talked, “what I ought to do for Kate’s baby now I’ve found her, and I don’t know when I’ve come across a harder proposition. I don’t wonder that women look worn out who have half a dozen girls to provide for. I’m sure that one would be too much for me.