Stanwood asked him how he came to sign such a threatening letter after it had been written, he said he had been on his way to a train and hadn’t stopped to read it over. That was that last insolent letter we got. But say, Mother, that Mr. Stanwood is a peach. He even offered to advance the money to settle up the mortgage and let us pay as we liked if we wanted to keep the house. But I knew you wouldn’t think we could do that.” He looked at his mother questioningly and sighed. He was tired, poor fellow. And after all the triumph, they were losing their house and getting nothing in return but a clear conscience and a good name.

“No! Of course not!” said the mother quickly. “But that was wonderful of him. An entire stranger.”

“He says he knew Father, or knew of him,” said the son tenderly. “Almost everyone seems to have known Father. Or at least known of him.”

The mother smiled and a light came into her eyes.

“You had a good father. Everybody respects a man like your father, even though he was not socially prominent or financially a great success.”

“Of course!” said the son proudly. “Father was most unusual.”

“Yes, but it is good to know that there are others, too,” said the mother, “good that all the world are not crooks.”

“Well, at least we’ll have enough left over from the settlement to move into a decent apartment and pay the rent a couple of months ahead till I can get a good-paying job,” said Thurlow with a sigh of relief. “There were almost two hundred dollars left over when everything was paid.”

“That’s grand,” said the mother. “But look here, son, just put that idea of an apartment out of your head. We can be thankful for this extra money, of course, but it won’t do much more than move us, and we’ve got to be careful with every cent. You needn’t get any notions about comfortable apartments. We’re not going to try to live in luxury. Not even what you would call comfort or perhaps even decency. We are going to get along with bare necessities, at least for a while, till we can see ahead. And this extra money is going to be a nest egg for possibilities ahead until we are sure of getting our money back from that bank—if we ever do. Now, I may as well tell you that I’ve made my plans, and I guess you’ll have to let me manage for a little while yet anyway. It may be a bit hard for you now, but I think it will work out. At least we’re going to try it. Now, come and let us get something to eat, and then I’ll tell you about it.”

“But, Mother,” said both the young people in dismay. “You mustn’t get that way. We are going to take care of you, you know.”

“Yes, well, that’s all right, and you’re a pair of dears, but we are going cautiously until the ground gets firmer under our feet again. Now, Rilla, you put the milk and butter and applesauce on the table, and, Thurl, slice the cold meat and cut the bread. I’ll fry the potatoes and make the coffee, and we’ll be ready in no time.”

Thurlow gave his mother a keen worried look but did her bidding, and in a short time, they sat down to the meal; but they ate silently, the young people keeping a wary eye on their mother.