"You thought, I see, it meant while he needed me, which would be as long as he lived. No, he does n’t insist on that. It was to be only while he stayed an active partner in the business. He wanted me at his elbow, and I did n’t feel like refusing him. He means to retire within five years--or sooner, if his health shows signs of breaking. Then he understands that I ’m to have a home by myself--build one, you know. Well, well, what a squeeze my arm is getting! Are you so glad?" "I’m pretty glad. It’s not that--that this place is n’t pleasant, and everybody more than kind, but----" "You needn’t be afraid to tell me--in fact, you don’t need to tell me. You ’re too much of a born Jenny Wren not to want to feather your own nest. And I want to see you do it. We ’ll begin to look over plans. We can talk about it and think about it----" "No, we can’t, Murray." "Why not? Isn’t anticipation----" "Yes, but it would make it harder to wait. Now I know it’s sure, I can----" "Be good?" said her husband. "You are being good--heavenly. What you did to-day--well, if you could have known what I thought about you when I saw you out there putting those pretty shoulders to the domestic wheel--proud is n’t the name for it. And let me tell you, Janey Townsend, it is n’t every girl who could take command of the forces and have them working for you at the top of their ability, like that. Norah has n’t a nose and chin of that perky shape for nothing; and Mary can soldier for fair when she chooses. As for Sophy--but you had Sophy for your own from the start. And it ’s not been done with tips, either, has it? Honestly, now, have you ever given Sophy a tip since you came to the house?" "A tip?" said Jane. "Money, you mean? Why, no. Should I? I never thought of it. Does she expect it?" "She probably doesn’t now--from you--or want it, as long as you reward her with your smiles and ask about her invalid brother, the way I overheard you doing the other day. She’d probably rather have your friendly interest than all Olive’s dollar bills. Oh, there are several ways of winning people’s loyalty, dear--and yours is the best. Only everybody can’t do it. Do you know, gentle Jane, I ’m a good deal interested in seeing you in the role of mistress of this house for a while?" "Murray, I ’m so doubtful about it!" "You need n’t be. The commanding officer who has proved to his regiment that in an emergency he can work with them, shoulder to shoulder--and work better than they can--need have no fears. It ’ll just be a case of ’Bridget, Norah, Sophy, Mary, Ellen--fall in! Shoulder arms! March!’ And off the regiment will go, heads up, chests out, eyes to the front." CHAPTER IV POT-HOOKS "I want to have a talk with you, Murray." "All right, sister, I ’m at your service."