He kept up a magnificent gloom until she left for the night.  And then he danced a hornpipe of glee—­not with his legs, but in his heart.  He had deliberately schemed to get rid of Mrs. Butt by means of Helen Rathbone.  The idea had occurred to him as he entered the house.  That was why he had encouraged her to talk freely about servants by assuring her that Mrs. Butt was not in the scullery, being well aware that Mrs. Butt was in the scullery.  He had made a tool of the unsuspecting, good-natured Helen, smart though she was!  He had transitory qualms of fear about the possible expensiveness of Helen.  He had decidedly not meant that she should give up school and nearly thirty shillings a week.  But, still, he had managed her so far, and he reckoned that he could continue to manage her.

He regretted that she had not praised his music.  And Helen wrote the same evening to her mother.  From a very long and very exciting letter the following excerpts may be culled: 

“I saw the fat old servant in the scullery at once.  But uncle thought she wasn’t there.  He is a funny old man—­rather silly, like most old men——­but I like him, and you can say what you please.  He isn’t silly really.  I instantly decided that I would get rid of that servant.  And I did do, and poor uncle never suspected.  In a few days I shall come to live here.  It’s much safer.  Supposing he was taken ill and died, and left all his money to hospitals and things, how awfully stupid that would be!  I told him I should leave the school, and he didn’t turn a hair.  He’s a dear, and I don’t care a fig for his money—­except to spend it for him.  His tiny house is simply lovely, terrifically clean, and in the loveliest order.  But I’ve no intention that we shall stay here.  I think I shall take a large house up at Hillport.  Uncle is only old in some ways; in many ways he’s quite young.  So I hope he won’t mind a change.  By the way, he told me about your age.  My dearest mother, how could you—­” etc.

In such manner came Helen Rathbone to keep house for her great-stepuncle.

CHAPTER IX

A GREAT CHANGE

“Helen Rathbone,” said Uncle James one Tuesday afternoon, “have ye been meddling in my cashbox?”

They were sitting in the front room, Helen in a light-grey costume that cascaded over her chair and half the next chair, and James Ollerenshaw in the deshabille of his Turkish cap.  James was at his desk.  It is customary in the Five Towns, when you feel combative, astonished, or ironic towards another person, to address that other person by his full name.

“You left the key in your cashbox this morning, uncle,” said Helen, glancing up from a book, “while you were fiddling with your safe in your bedroom.”

He did not like the word “fiddling.”  It did not suit either his dignity or the dignity of his huge Milner safe.

“Well,” he said, “and if I did!  I wasn’t upstairs more nor five minutes, and th’ new servant had na’ come!  There was but you and me in th’ house.”