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He now tried to give his mind to the task Amboyne had set him； but it was too hard： he gave it up； with rage and despair。
Then he made a desperate resolve； which will not surprise those who know the human heart。 He would harden himself。 He would see more of Miss Carden than ever； only it should be in quite a new light。 He would look at her； and keep saying to himself all the time； 〃You are another man's wife。〃
With this determination； he called at 〃Woodbine Villa。〃
Miss Carden was not at home。
〃Are you sure she is not at home？〃
〃Not at home；〃 replied the man stiffly。
〃But you needn't to keep him at the door；〃 said a mellow female voice。
〃No； miss；〃 said the man； with a sudden change of manner； for he was a desperate and forlorn admirer of the last speaker。 〃Come in； sir。〃 And he ushered him in to Jael Dence。 She was in her bonnet； and just going out。 They shook hands； and she told him Miss Carden was out walking。
〃Walking with her beau？〃 said Henry； affecting a jaunty air； but sick within。
〃That's more than I can say；〃 replied Jael。
〃You know nothing about it； of course；〃 said Henry； roughly。
Jael looked surprised at the uncalled…for tone； and turned a mild glance of inquiry and reproach upon him。
The young man was ashamed of himself； and at that moment； too； he remembered he had already been rather ungrateful to her。 So； to make amends； he said； 〃Didn't I promise to take you to Cairnhope？〃
〃Ay；〃 said Jael； and she beamed and blushed in a moment。
〃Well； I must go there； Sunday at the latest。 So I will come for you； if you like。 Will you be ready at ten o'clock？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I'll bring a gig； and take you like a lady。〃
〃Anyway you please。 I'd as lieve walk as ride。〃
〃I prefer riding。 Ten o'clock； the day after to…morrow。 Good…by。〃
And he hurried away； provoked； not pleased； at the manifest pleasure he had given。 The woman he lovedinaccessible！ The woman he only likedhe could spend the whole day with her。 So the reasonable youth was cross with her for that； and for being so pleased； when he was wretched。
That feeling soon wore off； however； and； being a man of business； he wrote a line to Martha Dence； and told her he should visit her on Sunday。 He added； with a gleam of good…humor； 〃and look out； for I shall bring my lass；〃 intending to give them all an agreeable surprise； for Jael； he knew； was an immense favorite。
Next day he went on the hills with Billy； and； instead of thinking for the benefit of his enemies； as agreed with Amboyne； he set himself to hate every body； especially Miss Carden's lover； and the Hillsborough Unions。 The grinders and file…cutters might die like sheep。 What did he care？ As much as they cared for him。 Dr。 Amboyne was too good for this world； and should keep his money to himself。 He （Henry Little） would earn none of it； would take none of it。 What invention he had should all go to outwit the Trades； and turn that old ruffian's church into his own smithy。 This double master…stroke； by which he was to defeat one enemy； and secretly affront another； did make him chuckle one or twice； not with joy； but with bitterness。
He awoke in a similar mood next morning： but there was eight o'clock service near； and the silver…toned bell awakened better thoughts。 He dressed hurriedly； and went to church。
He came back sadder； but rather less hot； less bitter： he had his breakfast； improved his toilet； went to the livery stable； and drove to 〃Woodbine Villa。〃
Mr。 and Miss Carden had just finished breakfast； when he drove up to the door。
〃Who is this？〃 said Mr。 Carden。
〃What； have you forgotten Mr。 Little？〃
〃Indeed！ Why； how he is dressed。 I took him for a gentleman。〃
〃You were not very far wrong； papa。 He is a gentleman at heart。〃
Jael came in equipped for the ride。 She was neatly dressed； and had a plain shepherd's…plaid shawl； that suited her noble bust。 She looked a picture of health and happiness。
〃If you please； miss； he is come to take me to Cairnhope。〃
〃Oh！ is it for that？ And I declare you expected him； too。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Jael； and blushed。
〃You never told me；〃 said Grace； with a light touch of asperity。
〃I didn't feel very sure he would keep his word。〃
〃Then you don't know him as well as I do。〃
〃I haven't the chance。 He speaks a deal more to you than he do to me。〃
〃Well； Jael； you needn't snub me； because you are going with Mr。 Little。〃
As a bone； put between two friendly dogs； causes a growl； so when a handsome young man enters on the scene； I have seen young women lose a little of that unmitigated sweetness which marked them a moment before。
With Grace； however； to snap and to repent generally followed in a breath。 〃I hope you will have a happy day； dear； as happy as you deserve。〃 She then went to kiss her； but gave her cheek； instead of her lips。 〃There；〃 said she； in rather a flurried way； 〃don't keep Mr。 Little waiting。〃
Just as they drove off； Grace came to the window； after a slight irresolution； and kissed her hand to them enchantingly； at which a sudden flood of rapture rushed through Little's heart； and flushed his cheek； and fired his dark eye； Grace caught its flash full in hers； and instinctively retired a step。 They were off。
〃How bright and happy they look；〃 said she to her father。 And no wonder。
She sat down； and； somehow； she felt singularly dull and lonely。
Then she dressed for church； languidly。 Then she went to church。 By…and…by she came back from church。
Then she sat down； in her bonnet； and felt alone in the world； and sad； and at last she found herself quietly crying； as young ladies will sometimes； without any visible cause。
Then she asked herself what on earth she was crying about； and herself told her she was a little hysterical fool； and wanted a good beating。
Then she plucked up spirit； and dried her eyes。 Then she took to yawning； and said Sunday was a dull day； and life itself rather a wearisome thing。
Then a servant came to inquire if she was at home。
〃What； on Sunday？ Of course not。 Who is it？〃
〃Mr。 Coventry； miss。〃
〃I am at home。〃
CHAPTER X。
People that met Jael Dence and Henry Little driving to Cairnhope were struck with their faces； his so dark； hers so fair； and both so handsome： but the woman's lit up with lively delight； the man's clouded and sorrowful； and his brow knit with care。 This very day he must take the lock off Cairnhope old church； in spite of his Uncle Raby。 He had got the requisite tools with him hidden in the gig； but； even should he succeed； it was but the first step of a difficult and； perhaps； dangerous enterprise； and he was entering on it all with a heart no longer buoyed by hopeful love。 But for his pledge to Mr。 Cheetham he could hardly have persisted in the struggle。
As for Jael Dence； she had no great reason to be happy either： the man she loved loved another。 Still he was kind to HER； and they belonged to the same class； she had a chance； and gleams of hope。 And； after all； the future was uncertain； but the present certain： she had him to herself for the day。 She was close to himso close； that she could feel himand he was driving her out； and to those