As the repast was cleared away, Miss Heathery felt that it was coming now, and as she grew more flushed, her head with its curls and great tortoise-shell comb trembled like a flower on its stalk. She got out her work, growing more and more agitated, but noticing that Thickens grew more cold and self-possessed. "The way of a great man," she thought to herself as she felt that she had led up to what was coming, and that she had never before been so wicked and daring in the whole course of her life. "It was the violets," she said to herself; and then she started, trembled more than ever, and felt quite faint, for James Thickens drew his chair a little nearer, spread his handkerchief carefully across his drab legs, and said suddenly: "Now then, let's to business." Business? Well yes, it was the great business of life, thought Miss Heathery, as she held her hands to her heart, ready to pour out the long pent-up sweetness with which it was charged. "Look here, Miss Heathery," he went on, "I always liked you." "Oh! Mr Thickens," she sighed, but she could not "look here" at the visitor, who was playing dumb tunes upon the red and lavender check table-cover, as if it were a harpsichord. "I've always thought you were an extremely good little woman." "At last," said Miss Heathery to herself. "You've got a nice little bit of money in our bank, and also the deeds of this house." "Don't--don't talk about money, Mr Thickens, please." "Must," he said abruptly. "I'm a money man. Now look here, you live on your little income we have in the bank." "Yes, Mr Thickens," sighed the lady. "Ah! yes, of course. Then look here. Dinham's two houses are for sale next week." "Yes; I saw the bill," she sighed. "Let me buy them for you." "Buy them? They would cost too much, Mr Thickens." "Not they. You've got nearly enough, and the rest could stay on. They always let; dare say you could keep on the present tenants." "But--" That "but" meant that she would not have those excuses for going to the bank. "You'll get good interest for your money then, ma'am, and you get little now." "But, Mr Thickens--" "I wish you to do it, ma'am, and I hope that you will." "Oh! if you wish it, Mr Thickens, of course I will," she said eagerly. "That's right; I do wish it. May I buy them for you?" "Oh, certainly, Mr Thickens." "All right, ma'am, then I will. Now I must get home and feed my fishes. Good evening." He caught up his hat, shook hands, and was gone before his hostess had recovered from her surprise and chagrin. "But never mind," she said, rubbing her hands and making two rings click. The contact of those two rings made her gaze down and then take and fondle one particular finger, while, in spite of the abruptness of her visitor, she gazed down dreamily at that finger, and sighed as she sank into a reverie full of golden dreams.