"Nettie, look here. Once for all let us settle this matter. I tell you
I cannot dismiss Susan; and I mean what I say when I use the words
'can not.' I literally CAN NOT. To begin with, she's the kindest-
hearted creature in the world, and she's been devotion itself all
these years since--since Keith and I have been alone. But even if I
could set that aside, there's something else I can't overlook. I--I
owe Susan considerable money."

"You owe her--MONEY?"

"Yes, her wages. She has not had them for some time. I must owe her
something like fifty or sixty dollars. You see, we--we have had some
very unusual and very heavy expenses, and I have overdrawn my annuity
--borrowed on it. Susan knew this and insisted on my letting her wages
go on, for the present. More than that, she has refused a better
position with higher wages--I know that. The pictures I had hoped to
sell--"He stopped, tried to go on, failed obviously to control his
voice; then turned away with a gesture more eloquent than any words
could have been.

Mrs. Colebrook stared, frowned, and bit her lip. Nervously she tapped
her foot on the floor as she watched with annoyed eyes her brother
tramping up and down, up and down, the long, narrow room. Then
suddenly her face cleared.

"Oh, well, that's easily remedied, after all." She sprang to her feet
and hurried from the room. Almost immediately she was back--a roll of
bills in her hand. "There, I thought I had enough money to do it," she
announced briskly as she came in. "Now, Daniel, I'LL pay Susan her
back wages."