’It would be dishonesty, Miss Shepperson, and, how unfortunate, I have never yet lost my honour.  People have trusted me, knowing that I am an honest man.  I belong to a good family—­as, no doubt, Mrs. Rymer has told you.  A brother of mine holds a respected position in Birmingham, and, if the worst comes to the worst, he will find me employment.  But, as you can well understand, I shrink from that extremity.  For one thing, I am in debt to my brother, and I am resolved to pay what I owe him before asking for any more assistance.  I do not lose courage.  You know the proverb:  “Lose heart, lose all.”  I am blest with an admirable wife, who stands by me and supports me under every trial.  If my wife were to die, Miss Shepperson—­’ He faltered; his eyes glistened in the gas ’But no, I won’t encourage gloomy fears.  She is a little better to-day, they tell me.  We shall come out of our troubles, and laugh over them by our cheerful fireside—­you with us—­you, our dearest and staunchest friend.’

‘Yes, we must hope,’ said Miss Shepperson, reassured once more as to her own interests; for a moment her heart had sunk very low indeed.  ’We are all doing our best.’

‘You above all,’ said Mr. Rymer, pressing her hand with his coal-blackened fingers.  ’I felt obliged to speak frankly, because you must have thought it strange that I allowed things to get so disorderly—­our domestic arrangements, I mean.  The fact is, Miss Shepperson, I simply don’t know how I am going to meet the expenses of this illness, and I dread the thought of engaging servants.  I cannot—­I will not—­raise money on my expectations!  When the money comes to me, I must be able to pay all my debts, and have enough left to recommence life with.  Don’t you approve this resolution, Miss Shepperson?’

‘Oh yes, indeed I do,’ replied the listener heartily.

‘And yet, of course,’ he pursued, his eyes wandering, ’we must have a servant—­’

Miss Shepperson reflected, she too with an uneasy look on her face.  There was a long silence, broken by a deep sigh from Mr. Rymer, a sigh which was almost a sob.  The other went on drying her plates and dishes, and said at length that perhaps they might manage with quite a young girl, who would come for small wages; she herself was willing to help as much as she could—­

‘Oh, you shame me, you shame me!’ broke in Mr. Rymer, laying a hand on his forehead, and leaving a black mark there.  ’There is no end to your kindness; but I feel it as a disgrace to us—­to me—­that you, a lady of property, should be working here like a servant.  It is monstrous—­monstrous!’

At the flattering description of herself Miss Shepperson smiled; her soft eyes beamed with the light of contentment.

‘Don’t you give a thought to that, Mr. Rymer,’ she exclaimed.  ’Why, it’s a pleasure to me, and it gives me something to do—­it’s good for my health.  Don’t you worry.  Think about your business, and leave me to look after the house.  It’ll be all right.’