"Do you think I would 'fool' you, or any man, on such a matter?
Old as I am, and lonely and friendless as I _was_, before I met this dear woman, I know that love is the most sacred of all things--the most valuable of all things--better than gold--greater than power--the only treasure we can lay up in heaven 'where neither moth nor rust do corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal!' Do not"-- and here his strong emotion threatened to get the better of him--"do not, sir, think that because I was tramping the road in search of a friend to help me, before Miss Mary found me and brought me home here and saved my life, God bless her!--do not think, I say, that I have no feeling! I feel very much--very strongly--" He broke off breathing quickly, and his hands trembled.

Reay hastened to his side in some alarm, remembering what Mary had told him about the old man's heart.
"Dear old David, I know!" he said.

"Don't worry! I know you feel it all--I'm sure you do! Now, for goodness' sake, don't excite yourself like this--she--she'll never forgive me!" and he shook up the cushion at the back of Helmsley's chair and made him lean upon it.

"Only it would be such a joy to me--such a wonder--such a help--to know that she really loved me!--_loved_ me, David!--you understand--why, I think I could conquer the world!" Helmsley smiled faintly.

He was suffering physical anguish at the moment--the old sharp pain at his heart to which he had become more or less wearily accustomed, had dizzied his senses for a space, but as the spasm passed he took Reay's hand and pressed it gently.
"What does the Great Book tell us ?" he muttered.