“Very agreeable, but not old.  David is about thirty-one or two, I think.  He is the son of my friend, the husband died some years ago.  I thought I mentioned it.”

“You said in your note that Mr. Sterling was a florist, and might like me to help in the green-house, if I was willing.  It must be lovely work, and I should like it very much.”

“Yes, David devotes himself to his flowers, and leads a very quiet life.  You may think him rather grave and blunt at first, but you’ll soon find him out and get on comfortably, for he is a truly excellent fellow, and my right-hand man in good works.”

A curious little change had passed over Christie’s face during these last questions and answers, unconscious, but quite observable to keen eyes like Mr. Power’s.  Surprise and interest appeared first, then a shadow of reserve as if the young woman dropped a thin veil between herself and the young man, and at the last words a half smile and a slight raising of the brows seemed to express the queer mixture of pity and indifference with which we are all apt to regard “excellent fellows” and “amiable girls.”  Mr. Power understood the look, and went on more confidentially than he had at first intended, for he did not want Christie to go off with a prejudice in her mind which might do both David and herself injustice.

“People sometimes misjudge him, for he is rather old-fashioned in manner and plain in speech, and may seem unsocial, because he does not seek society.  But those who know the cause of this forgive any little short-comings for the sake of the genuine goodness of the man.  David had a great trouble some years ago and suffered much.  He is learning to bear it bravely, and is the better for it, though the memory of it is still bitter, and the cross hard to bear even with pride to help him hide it, and principle to keep him from despair.”

Mr. Power glanced at Christie as he paused, and was satisfied with the effect of his words, for interest, pity, and respect shone in her face, and proved that he had touched the right string.  She seemed to feel that this little confidence was given for a purpose, and showed that she accepted it as a sort of gage for her own fidelity to her new employers.

“Thank you, sir, I shall remember,” she said, with her frank eyes lifted gravely to his own.  “I like to work for people whom I can respect,” she added, “and will bear with any peculiarities of Mr. Sterling’s without a thought of complaint.  When a man has suffered through one woman, all women should be kind and patient with him, and try to atone for the wrong which lessens his respect and faith in them.”

“There you are right; and in this case all women should be kind, for David pities and protects womankind as the only retaliation for the life-long grief one woman brought upon him.  That’s not a common revenge, is it?”

“It’s beautiful!” cried Christie, and instantly David was a hero.