'Mr. Falkirk?' 'No!'—with a great flush. 'I would try to endure Mr. Falkirk. But I do not at this moment think of any other human being I could endure,—besides Hans Heinert.' 'Well—there it is,' said Hazel, impressively, very busy at taking the measure of his arm just then with her little fingers. 'I do not know. Perhaps not. Let us hear.' 'Olaf,' she said, softly now, 'is not this big empty house a 'talent?' And if it is, you know it must be increased by 'trading.' And I can think of no way but to make it reach out over heads that—for any reason—need shelter. One would want to be able to say—'Lord, thy house has become ten houses'—or a hundred, if it would stretch so far!' 'Go on,' said Dane, his eyes sparkling and growing soft, both at once. 'Who is to be your first guest?' '_She_ will not trouble you. It is only a poor little embroiderer down at Crocus who is dying for rest and good living. Dr. Arthur told me; and I am going to bring her here for awhile. But there—it seems as if I could not help hearing of things now!' said Hazel, again with a half laugh. 'If it was a sick or over-worked guest of some other sorts, they _must_ come where you would see them. So what am I to do?' 'I can stand seeing them,' said Dane, watching her. 'But if there was always somebody needing fresh air and dainties,' said Hazel, looking up wistfully. 'Then you would never see me— and I should never see you—except across other people. Must I give that up too?' 'No,' said her husband laughing. 'Where did you get all those "mustesses"—as Dingee would express it?' 'If there were always some one else on hand.'— 'The house is big enough for them and us too. I am glad I went over it this morning.' 'Yes, big enough for anything,' said Hazel eagerly. 'But then at meals—in the evening.—Just when the mills and I do not come into competition!' Dane smiled now very brightly. 'I will have nothing come in competition with you,' said he. 'Except duty sometimes. And this is not duty. Fit up some of those untenanted rooms, and let them be homes for whoever needs them. And let all such guests be entirely free, and at home, and served each with his meals in his own apartment, except when you choose to ask them to your's. That would sometimes be and sometimes not be; but the sanctity of our own home must be preserved. Do you not think so?' he added gently. 'O if we may!—You know much more about it than I do. But suppose somebody sick at heart, or mind-weary? You see I know about that,' said Hazel, her girlish face all wistful again. 'I thought the loneliness was often the chief thing.' 'Let them have drives, and flowers, and books; rest and leisure; the sight of you occasionally; and now and then an invitation to dinner.' 'That might do. I could see them when you are away. Olaf, I have been thinking how I can possibly invest all this money-power you have put in my hands.'