It seemed to David that she was describing her lover of the winter; he caught her gesture as she illustrated her performance with Jim Wigson--the boxing of the amorous lout's ears in the lane by the Dye-works. Her beautiful curly black hair was combed to-night into a sort of wild halo round her brow and cheeks, and in this arrangement counteracted the one fault of the face--a slightly excessive length from forehead to chin. But the brilliance of the eyes, the redness of the thin lips over the small and perfect teeth, the flush on the olive cheek, the slender neck, the distinction and delicacy of every sweeping line and curve--for the first time even David realised, as he stood there in the dark, that his sister was an extraordinary beauty. Strange! Her manner and voice had neither natural nor acquired refinement; and yet in the moulding of the head and face there was a dignity and perfection--a touch, as it were, of the grand style--which marked her out in a northern crowd and riveted the northern eye. Was it the trace of another national character, another civilisation, longer descended, less mixed, more deeply graven than ours? But what was that idiot John doing here?--the young master wanted to know. He coughed loudly and hung up his hat and his stick, to let them hear that he was there. The pair in the kitchen started. Louie sprang up, flung down her work, and ran out to him. 'Well,' said she breathlessly, 'have you got it?' 'Yes.' She gave a little shriek of excitement. 'Show it then.' 'There's nothing to show but a cheque. It's all right. Is there anything for supper?' 'There's some bread and cheese and cold apple-pie in there,' said Louie, annoyed with him already; then, turning her head over her shoulder, 'Mr. Dalby, I'll trouble you to get them out.' With awkward alacrity John flew to do her bidding. When the lad had ransacked the cupboard and placed all the viands it contained on the table, he looked at David. That young man, with a pucker in his brow, was standing by the fire with his hands in his pockets, making short answers to Louie's sharp and numerous questions. 'That's all I can find,' said John. 'Shall I run for something?' 'Thanks,' said David, still frowning, and sat him down, 'that 'll do.' Louie made a face at John behind her brother's back. The assistant slowly flushed a deep red. In this young fellow, with his money buttoned on his breast, both he and Louie for the first time realised the master. 'Well, good night,' he said, hesitating, 'I'm going.' David jumped up and went with him into the passage. 'Look here,' he said abruptly, 'you and I have got some business to talk to-morrow. I'm not going to keep you slaving here for nothing now that I can afford to pay you.' 'Are you going to turn me off?' said the other hastily. David laughed. The cloud had all cleared from his brow. 'Don't be such a precious fool!' he said. 'Now be off--and seven sharp. I must go at it like ten horses to-morrow.'