"I did not think it trouble," she said in the same way. "There is no need to say anything about it." "Excuse me; I must say something, or earn my own contempt. But what made you do all that for a person who was nothing to you? I do not understand that sort of thing, in such a degree." "Perhaps you do not put it the right way," she returned. "Anybody who is in trouble is something to me." "What, pray?" said he quickly. "My neighbour,"--she said with that slight, pleasant smile again. "Don't you know the gospel rule is, to do to others what you would wish them to do to you?" "I never saw anybody before who observed that rule." "Didn't you? I am sorry for that. It is a pleasant rule to follow." "Pleasant!" her guest echoed. "Excuse me; you cannot mean that?" "I mean it, yes, certainly. And there is another thing, Mr. Southwode; I like to do whatever my Master gives me to do; and he gave you to me to take care of." "Did he?" "I think so." "You did it," said the stranger slowly. "Mrs. Carpenter, I am under very great obligations to you." "You are very welcome," she said simply. "You have done more for me than you know. I never saw what religion can be--what religion is--until I saw it in your house." She was silent now, and he was silent also, for some minutes; not knowing exactly how to go on. He felt instinctively that he must not offer money here. The people were poor unquestionably; at the same time they did not belong to the class that can take that sort of pay for service. He never thought of offering it. They were quite his equals. "Mr. Carpenter was so good as to tell me something of his affairs as we walked this morning," he began again. "I am sorry to hear that his land is heavily encumbered." "Yes!" Mrs. Carpenter said with a sigh, and a shadow crossing her face. "That sort of thing cannot be helped sometimes, but it is a bother, and it leads to more bother. Well! I should like to be looked upon as a friend, by you and your husband; but I shall be a friend a good way off. Mrs. Carpenter, do not be offended at my plain speaking;--I would say, that if ever you find yourself in difficulties and need a friend's help, I would like you to remember me, and deliver that letter according to the address." He handed her as he spoke a letter, sealed, and addressed to "Messrs. Bell & Buckingham, 46 Barclay St., New York." Mrs. Carpenter turned the letter over, in silent surprise; looked at the great red seal and read the direction. "Keep it safe," Mr. Southwode went on, "and use it if ever you have' occasion. Do not open it; for I shall not be at the place where it is to be delivered, and an open letter would not carry the same credit. With the letter, if ever you have occasion to make use of it, enclose a card with your address; that my agent may know where to find you." "You are very kind!" Mrs. Carpenter said in a little bewilderment; "but nothing of this kind is necessary."