It was an amiable fiction with Margaret’s husband that she was largely responsible for his success in life. He often solemnly declared that but for her at the helm, he should never have prospered as was the case, and certainly never have won the great prize at Tavistock. This statement he would make repeatedly, despite his wife’s protests and Rhoda’s silences. He made it now to Mrs. Stanbury. "Look at Madge," he said. "If she’s such a splendid wife, why are you afeared that Bart won’t be a splendid husband? Madge took after you; Bart takes after his father. Why, where should I be if it wasn’t for Madge? Not where I stand, I can tell you. She’s the corner-stone of the house, and always has been, and always will be. You ought to believe what people tell you about your children." "’Tis very well to know you think so," she admitted; "all the same, a mother’s eye can’t overlook the defects." "Not in your case, seemingly; but ’tis just what a mother’s eye be cleverest at doing as a rule," declared he. "’Tis no good pretending with yourself, as you do," she answered. "You think our Madge have helped you to greatness, and if love and worship could bring you up top, you’d be right. But it can’t. You was too strong and steady a man to want any woman’s help." "No, no--never was such a man as that," her son-in-law answered, and firmly believed it. "Madge has helped me to take big views," he continued. "Why, there’s no work that we do can taste so good as the work we do for other people. Your daughter teached me that." The afternoon advanced and Margaret entered the parlour to say that tea was ready in the kitchen. Bart and Jane comported themselves with high indifference under the ordeal of this entertainment. They had accepted the good wishes and the chaff; they had eaten heartily and departed together as soon as dinner was done. "They won’t be back for tea. They don’t want no tea," declared Mr. Stanbury. "Why, they’ve even got to naming the day! ’Twill be Martin West’s turn to find the spread and give the party this time; and if he does all I did for you and Madge, David, I shall be surprised--though he’s a richer man than me by a good few pound, I warrant you." Talk ran on the new romance; then Rhoda reminded David that a Princetown man was to see him that evening within an hour from the present time. He rose at once and prepared to depart. But Margaret did not accompany him. "I shan’t be back afore supper," she said. "Bartley Crocker’s coming up presently. He won’t see my father and mother no more, for his time is getting short. So I shall bide here till he’s been and gone."