“I don’t doubt it, but it isn’t goin’ to be known. I’m postmistress here at Harniss and I’m goin’ to keep the place. That is,” she added, tartly, “I am unless you or some of the rest of the smart wire-pullers work your schemes to have me put out.” He regarded her keenly. “Now what do you mean by that?” he demanded. “Look here, Reliance, you ought to understand that if you come to my house to live you come as--well, as part of the family. You are Esther’s aunt and when you and she come here I can’t have you running back and forth to that post office. I’m figuring to take care of you and pay your bills.” She silenced him with an impatient movement of her hand. “There, there!” she exclaimed. “Don’t talk that way, or I shall lose my temper and say things that might just as well not be said. I haven’t yet quite got over your tellin’ me how you had me appointed to that office. You won’t have to pay my bills--no, nor Millard’s either. We aren’t comin’ to live with you.” He bent forward in the chair. “What’s that!” he exclaimed. “Didn’t you just tell me you were coming?” “Of course I didn’t. I told you that Esther Townsend was comin’. She is; she will be here to-morrow. But Reliance Clark isn’t comin’. No, nor Millard--unless he does somethin’ for once on his own hook and even then he’d have to do it over my dead body. The Clarks will stay in the house they rent of you--provided you don’t order ’em out--and pay that rent and their own bills same as they always have.... Oh, don’t pretend to look so surprised!” she added, sharply. “I can’t think you ever really expected me to do anything else.” He was surprised, however. For a moment he stared at her, his brows drawn together and his eyes fixed upon her face. He saw no wavering resolution or pretense there. “Humph!” he grunted, leaning back slowly against the cushions. “So that’s it, eh?... I see.” “I certainly hope you do see. I should hate to believe you ever really saw anything else. Honestly now, Foster Townsend, you never expected that I would drop my work and my self-respect and everything else of my own and move in here to live on your charity like--like a pauper goin’ to the poorhouse? You didn’t really expect me to do that? Come now!” Whatever he expected, or had expected up to that time, he kept to himself. He thrust his hands into his trousers pockets and smiled. “The same old Reliance, aren’t you,” he observed. “I told you last night that you hadn’t changed, and I was right. You’re just as contrary as ever.” “Perhaps I am. I’m glad I’ve got spunk enough to be contrary when it is necessary. And it is necessary now.” “Humph! Answer me this: Why do you suppose I asked you and your brother to come here if I didn’t expect you to come? If I hadn’t wanted you I shouldn’t have asked you. I usually know what I mean.” “Yes, you do. So do I. That’s one thing we’ve got in common, anyhow. And--”