The Man from Everywhere began to laugh, and catching Maria’s eye she joined him heartily.  “How do you mean to manage?” he asked in a way that barred all thought of intrusion.

“I’m going to have a flower farm and take in two invalids—­no, not cranks or lunatics, but merely tired people,” she added, a little catch coming in her voice.

“Then you had better begin with me, for I’m precious tired of taking care of myself, and here is Amos also applying, so I do not see but what your establishment is already complete!”

Then, as he saw by her face that the subject was not one for jest, he said, in his hearty way that Mary Penrose likes, “Why not let me buy the place, as mine was the first offer, put it in order, and then lease it to you for three years, with the privilege of buying if you find that your scheme succeeds?  If the house is too small to allow two lone men a room each, I can add a lean-to to match Opie’s summer kitchen, for you know sometimes a woman finds it comfortable to have a man in the house!”

Maria did not answer at first, but was looking at the one uncurtained window, where the firelight again made opals of the panes.  Then turning, she said, “I will think over your offer, Mr. Blake, if everything may be upon a strictly business basis.  But how about Amos?  He seems better, and I ought to be going.  I do not know why I should have been so foolish, but for a moment he did not seem to breathe, and I thought it was a stroke.”

“I’m comin’ too all in good time, now my mind’s relieved,” replied the old man, with a chuckle, “and I think I’ll weather to-night fer the sake o’ fixin’ that deed termorrow, Mr. Blake, if you’ll kindly give me jest a thimbleful more o’ that old liquor o’ yourn—­I kin manage it fust rate without the water, thank ’ee!”

The Man followed Maria to the door and out into the night.  He did not ask her if he might go with her—­he simply walked by her side for once unquestioned.

Maria spoke first, and rather more quickly and nervously than usual:  “I suppose you think that my scheme in wishing the farm is a madcap one, but I’m sure I could not see why you should wish to own it!”

“Yes and no!  I can well understand why you should desire a broader, freer life than your vocation allows, but—­well, as for reading women’s motives, I have given that up long since; it often leads to trouble though I have never lost my interest in them.

“I think Amos Opie will revive, now that his mind is settled” (if it had been sufficiently light, Maria would have seen an expression upon The Man’s face indicative of his belief that the recent attack of illness was not quite motiveless, even though he forgave the ruse).  “In a few days, when the deeds are drawn, will you not, as my prospective tenant, come and look over the house by daylight and tell me what changes would best suit your purpose, so that I may make some plans?  I imagine that Amos revived will be able to do much of the work himself with a good assistant.