"Yes, that is true. I will say this for Gar'ner, that he is as reasonable
a young man, when he does an odd job, as any one I know. I like to employ
him."

Mary understood this very well. It amounted to neither more nor less, than
the deacon's perfect consciousness that the youth had, again and again,
given him his time and his services gratuitously; and that too, more than
once, under circumstances when it would have been quite proper that he
should look for a remuneration. A slight colour stole over the face of the
niece, as memory recalled to her mind these different occasions. Was that
sensitive blush owing to her perceiving the besetting weakness of one who
stood in the light of a parent to her, and towards whom she endeavoured to
feel the affection of a child? We shall not gainsay this, so far as a
portion of the feeling which produced that blush was concerned; but,
certain it is, that the thought that Roswell had exerted himself to oblige
_her_ uncle, obtruded itself somewhat vividly among her other
recollections.

"Well, sir," the niece resumed, after another brief pause, "we can send
for Roswell, if you think it best, and ask him to do the poor man this act
of kindness."

"Your messengers after doctors are always in such a hurry! I dare say,
Gar'ner would think it necessary to hire a horse to cross Shelter Island,
and then perhaps a boat to get across to the Harbour. If no boat was to be
found, it might be another horse to gallop away round the head of the Bay.
Why, five dollars would scarce meet the cost of such a race!"

"If five dollars were needed, Roswell would pay them out of his own
pocket, rather than ask another to assist him in doing an act of charity.