It's almost too big a cottage for me, but father loved it, and he died here,--that's why I keep all his things about me and stay on in it.

He planted all the roses in the orchard,--and I couldn't leave them!" Helmsley said nothing in answer to this.

She put an armchair for him near the bed.
"Now as soon as you're in bed, just call to me and I'll put out the light in the kitchen and go to bed myself,"-- she said--"And I'll take the little doggie with me, and make him comfortable for the night.

I'm leaving you a candle and matches, and if you feel badly at all, there's a handbell close by,--mind you ring it, and I'll come to you at once and do all I can for you." He bent his eyes searchingly upon her in his old suspicious "business" way, his fuzzy grey eyebrows almost meeting in the intensity of his gaze.
"Tell me--why are you so good to me ?" he asked.
She smiled.
"Don't ask nonsense questions, please, Mr.David! Haven't I told you already ?--not why I am 'good,' because that's rubbish--but why I am trying to take care of you ?" "Yes--because I am old!" he said, with a sudden pang of self-contempt--"and--useless!" "Good-night!" she answered, cheerfully--"Call to me when you are ready!" She was gone before he could speak another word and he heard her talking to Charlie in petting playful terms of endearment.

Judging from the sounds in the kitchen, he concluded, and rightly, that she was getting her own supper and that of the dog at the same time.