given them a good deal of trouble, and the proposal to sell had more
than once been considered, but Mr. Turnbull, most cautious of
counsellors, urged delay. Now, at length, the hoped-for opportunity
of a good investment seemed to have presented itself; Will's
sanguine report of what he had learnt from Sherwood was gladly
accepted.

"It'll be a good thing for you as well," said Jane. "Yes, it comes
just in time. Sherwood knew what he was doing; now and then I've
thought he was risking too much, but he's a clear-headed fellow. The
way he has kept things going so long in Ailie Street is really
remarkable."

"I daresay you had your share in that, Will," said Mrs. Warburton.

"A very small one; my work has never been more than routine. I don't
pretend to be a man of business. If it had depended upon me, the
concern would have fallen to pieces years ago, like so many others.
House after house has gone down; our turn must have come very soon.
As it is, we shall clear out with credit, and start afresh
gloriously. By the bye, don't get any but Applegarth's jams in
future."

"That depends," said Jane laughing, "if we like them."

In their simple and wholesome way of living, the Warburtons of
course dined at midday, and Will, who rarely ate without appetite,
surpassed himself as trencherman; nowhere had food such a savour for
him as under this roof. The homemade bread and home-grown vegetables
he was never tired of praising; such fragrant and toothsome loaves,