And then everybody round the table, except David Jones, who usually spent week-ends at Hadley, and had arrived just in time to hear Bessie's story, began eating pears with a knife-and-fork, only the knives were steel ones. After supper David asked Bessie if she would take a little walk with him for a few minutes. It was not the first time he had done so. Both Phebe and Nanna had seen the growing nearness between these two, but had made no remark, for the friendship had certainly been helpful to both. "I could quite sympathise with you about that pear," said David as they reached a quiet road away from the usual Saturday night scenes. He did not always reach Hadley so early, but had made a special effort this night for a special purpose. There was something on his heart he wanted to say very much, and had hardly known how to introduce it. The story of the coveted pear seemed quite like "a godsend" to him. "Yes, I have felt like that myself." "Have you?" said Bessie. "Shouldn't have thought it; it isn't like a man to hesitate at a trifle like that." "Do you think I should have eaten it straight away out of my hand?" "Something like that." "Would you have blamed me if I had done so?" "I shouldn't have blamed you, most certainly not; but smart folks might." "I don't care for smart folks, do you?" "Can't say I don't, seeing I should like to be smart myself." There was a little pause, and then David said: "But you would advise me, if there was something I wanted very much, to take it the best way I could?" Bessie seemed to hesitate; perhaps she guessed what it was the young fellow wanted! "Certainly," she answered in a low voice. "Bessie," and he turned eagerly towards her, "it's a flower I want, a flower to wear for ever on my heart." "I think you're growing sentimental, and it's getting late; we had better turn back." "No, Bessie, now I've once started you must let me finish. It's you I want." And then he told her the old story which has had so many different endings, yet always beautiful when coming from lips sincere. That same night David told his mistress all about it. "And what did Bessie say?" asked Phebe, greatly interested and pleased at the confidence he showed in her. "Well, she didn't say much, but I think it will be all right." "You may rest assured if she had meant to refuse you she would have said so right out. But, David," and here she put her hand on his arm, and her voice took on a low, tender note "have you told her how you came to be in my employ?" "No, Mrs. Waring," all the joy suddenly dying out of his face; "do you think I need do so?" "Yes, I do; I think it is your plain duty to do so." "If I did she would throw me over as she would toss away one of her pears that was bad." "I don't think so; it is only your fear makes you have that thought." "But why should I tell her? That is all past and gone."