“You are not quite a brute,” she smiled, panting a little. “But you are dreadfully strong, and you must not do that again either--yet;” and she ran laughing out of the room just as Jim came in. “Hello, old man!” cried that worthy gayly; “so you got back safe, eh? Well, I’m mighty glad to see you;” and he shook Conway’s hand heartily. “I am safe enough,” returned Conway lightly. “But I have got a large sum of money here belonging to you, and I am glad you have come to relieve me.” “Well, I’ll lock up the money,” said Jim prudently, “and we will talk matters over after dinner.” Jim appeared to be in no hurry to listen to Conway’s accounting, for he excused himself immediately after dinner on a plea of business, and left Conway and his sister alone. “I am glad he has gone, the dear fellow,” Norine said, after he had left the room, “for I want you to help me.” “In what way?” inquired Conway. “In my shopping, sir,” replied Norine gravely. “Did you ever go shopping with a woman?” “No; I have never had that pleasure.” Norine laughed. “Wait till we return before you call it a pleasure,” she cried gayly. “But then, seriously, I must buy some presents for Jim and Clinton, and the people at home.” Norine always referred to the farm as home. “And you must help me, for I can not imagine what to get.” “I will do all I can,” replied Conway; “but I doubt the value of my assistance.” “Oh, you can help me, I know,” smiled Norine; and then added demurely: “And I will promise you a Christmas present to pay you for your trouble--something that I think you will value;” and with that she slipped away to get ready. “We will not take the carriage,” she said, when she returned. “It will only delay us; and besides, I want to see the windows.” And they started out together to walk the streets pretty much as they had gone on their long walks through the woods at home. They went to several establishments, where the windows were dressed for holiday display, and returned home at dark, tired but satisfied. “We shall go again to-morrow!” cried Norine, delighted. “We have spent so much time looking in the windows that I have not bought one half of all I wanted.” After supper, the two men retired to the cozy little room that Jim had fitted up for his office and smoking room. Other folks would probably have dignified the apartment by calling it a study; but with them it was simply Jim’s room, and the lack of tone in the appellation detracted nothing from its all-pervading air of cozy comfort. After they got their pipes filled and properly lighted, they entered into the discussion of business; and Conway explained the terms he had made in the sale of the land, and also the disposition they had made of Clinton’s interest in the Morain business. Jim was highly pleased with it all.