" Mr.
Benson had been too much gratified and touched, by her
unconditional gift of all she had in the world, to reject it; but
he only held it in his hands as a deposit until he could find a
safe investment befitting so small a sum. The little
rearrangements of the household expenditure had not touched him
as they had done the women. He was aware that meat-dinners were
not now everyday occurrences; but he preferred puddings and
vegetables, and was glad of the exchange. He observed, too, that
they all sat together in the kitchen in the evenings; but the
kitchen, with the well-scoured dresser, the shining saucepans,
the well-blacked grate, and whitened hearth, and the warmth which
seemed to rise up from the very flags, and ruddily cheer the most
distant corners, appeared a very cosy and charming sitting-room;
and, besides, it appeared but right that Sally, in her old age,
should have the companionship of those with whom she had lived in
love and faithfulness so many years. He only wished he could more
frequently leave the solitary comfort of his study, and join the
kitchen party; where Sally sat as mistress in the chimney corner,
knitting by firelight, and Miss Benson and Ruth, with the candle
between them, stitched away at their work; while Leonard strewed
the ample dresser with his slate and books. He did not mope and
pine over his lessons; they were the one thing that took him out
of himself.
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