“What!... Humph! How did she get here? I’ve been watching the front gate.” “She never come in that gate. Come across lots, I cal’late. She’s at the side door. I told her I wan’t sure that you could talk to her now.” “Who is with her?” “Eh? Why, nobody’s with her. She’s all alone. Kind of funny, her comin’, ain’t it?” Townsend frowned. Alone? What might that mean? “Bring her in here,” he ordered. “Light that lamp on the table. It’s getting dark.” Nabby lighted the student lamp and hurried out. A moment later she ushered Reliance into the library. “Good afternoon, Foster,” said Reliance, pleasantly. Townsend nodded. Then he turned to the housekeeper. “You needn’t wait, Nabby,” he said. “You better go out in the kitchen. Yes, and shut the door after you.” Mrs. Gifford’s reception of this blunt dismissal was characteristic. She went, but she fired a parting shot. “The kitchen was where I was bound, so fur as that goes,” she observed, with dignity. “And I don’t need to be reminded to shut the door, neither. It ain’t me that leaves doors open in _this_ house.” Foster Townsend waited until a vigorous slam proved that his order had been obeyed. Then he turned to his visitor. “Sit down,” he said, motioning toward a chair. “Better take off your things, hadn’t you?” Reliance shook her head. “I’ll sit down a minute,” she replied, “but I’ll keep my things on. I can’t stop very long. I must get back to the shop. I left Abbie workin’ on Jane Snow’s hat and mercy knows what she’ll do with it unless I’m there to watch her. And if that isn’t enough to make me uneasy the post office is. Millard is supposed to be attendin’ to that; ‘supposed’ is what I said.” Townsend smiled appreciation of the sarcasm. He lowered himself into the easy-chair. “Where is the girl?” he asked. “Why didn’t you bring her with you?” “She is at home, getting her things together. At least I suppose she is, that is what I told her she had better do. She’ll be here to-morrow--to stay.” Townsend’s big body relaxed against the leather cushions. His expression, however, did not change. He took pains that it did not do so. No one--least of all the astute Miss Clark--should guess the relief the blunt announcement gave him. “Oh!” he said, carelessly. “So you’ve decided to take up with my offer, have you. You made up your minds pretty promptly, seems to me. I told you to take all the time you wanted.” “Yes, I know you did. And I imagine you thought we wouldn’t take much. Well, you were right in one way. _My_ mind was made up before I went to bed last night.” “Um-hum.... And you are coming to-morrow? That is quick business, but it suits me if it does you. You can’t give up the post office as soon as that, though. You’ll have to attend to that until I can pick out somebody to take your place. It won’t take long. Once let it be known that the job is vacant and there’ll be plenty of candidates.”