'Because you did not take all the good of life you might.' 'How could I? A poor man can't revel in the good things of life,' he said, with a slight touch of irritation. 'No, quite true; but some poor people seem to make more out of small things. That was what I meant,' said Gladys meekly. 'But we must not talk anything disagreeable, uncle; it is not good for you.' 'But I want to talk. I say, were you disappointed because I never took you into Ayrshire in the summer?' 'Yes, uncle, a little, but it soon passed. When summer comes again, you will take me, I am sure.' 'You will go, anyhow, whether I do or not,' he said pointedly. 'Will you tell me, child, what you think of Walter?' 'Of Walter, uncle?' Gladys paused, with her hand on the cupboard door, and looked back at him with a slightly puzzled air. 'Yes. Do you think him a clever chap?' 'I do. I think he can do anything, Uncle Abel,' she replied warmly. 'Yes, Walter is very clever.' 'And good?' 'And good. You and I know that there are few like him,' was her immediate reply. 'And you like him?' 'Of course I do; it would be very strange if I did not,' she replied, without embarrassment. 'Do you think he would be capable of filling a much higher post than he has at present?' 'Of course I do; and if you will not be angry, I will say that I have often thought that you do not pay him enough of money.' 'There's nothing like going through the hards in youth. It won't do him any harm,' said the old man. 'He won't suffer by it, I promise you that.' 'Perhaps not; but when he has educated himself,--which won't be long now, Uncle Abel, he is getting on so fast,--he will not stay here. We could not expect it.' 'Why not, if there's money in it?' '_Is_ there money in it?' A shrewd little smile wreathed her lips, and her whole manner indicated that her sense of humour was touched. 'There's money in most things if they are attended to,' he said, with his usual evasiveness; 'and a young, strong man can work up a small thing into a paying concern if he watches his opportunity.' 'Money is not everything,' Gladys replied, as she began to spread the cloth, 'but it can do a great deal.' 'Ay, you are right, my girl; this is a poor world to live in without it. Suppose you were a rich woman, what would you do with your money?' 'Help people who have none; it is the only use money is for.' 'Now you speak out of ignorance,' said the old man severely. 'Don't you know that there's a kind of people--Walter's parents, for instance--whom it is not only useless, but criminal, to help with money? Just think of the poor lad's case. He has only had a small wage, certainly; but if it had been three times bigger it would have been the same thing.' Gladys knit her brows perplexedly. 'It is hard, uncle, certainly. The plan would be, to help them in a different way.'