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Patty went in as meek as Moses。
Then Jael turned to Henry； and laid her hand on his arm； while her gray eyes searched his face。
〃There's something amiss。 You are never cross； except when you are unhappy。 What is it？〃
〃Oh； Jael； my heart is broken。 She is going to be married。〃
〃Who says so？〃
〃Mr。 Cheetham told me she was engaged to a Mr。 Coventry。〃
〃What can Mr。 Cheetham know？ To be sure the gentleman is a good deal with her； and I hear he has courted her this two years； and she likes his company； that's certain。 But she is used to be admired； and she is very hard to please。〃
〃What； then； you think it is not quite hopeless？〃
〃While there's life there's hope。〃
〃What had I better do？〃
〃Nay； you shouldn't ask me。〃
〃Oh； yes： you advised me so wisely about the insurance。〃
〃Ay； but then I saw it clear。 He is purse…proud； and I knew he'd think a deal more of you if you insured your life for a vast o' money。 But now I don't see clear； and I'm loath to advise。 Happen you'd hate me afterward if it went wrong。〃
〃No； no； I wouldn't be so ungrateful。〃
Jael shook her head； doubtfully。
〃Well； then；〃 said Henry； 〃don't advise me； but put yourself in my place。 （I'll tell you a secret I daren't trust to Patty。 I have found a way to beat the Trades； and make my fortune in a year or two。） Now what would you do； if you were me？〃
This question raised a tumult in Jael's heart。 But her strong will； her loyalty； and； above all； her patience； conquered； though not without signs of the struggle； a bosom that heaved somewhat higher； and a low voice that trembled a little。 〃If I was a young man； I wouldn't shilly…shally； nor wait till I was rich； before I spoke。 I'd have it out with her。 I'd get her alone； and tell her all。 Then； if she showed any sign of liking； I'd beg her to wait a bit； and say I'd soon be a gentleman for her sake。 And if she cares naught for you； better know it； and leave her； than fare in heaven one hour and in hell the next； as I have seen thee do this while； my poor lad。〃
〃It is wise and good advice； and I'll take it。 I've kept all my courage for the Trades； I'd better have shown her a little。 But there's one thing more I want to ask you。〃
This was too much。 Jael's courage and patience failed her for once。 〃Keep it；〃 she cried almost wildly。 〃I can't bear no more。 There's not one lass in a hundred would do what I have done for you： yet you want more。 D'ye think I'm not flesh and blood； as well as her？〃
And she began to cry bitterly。
This took Henry quite by surprise； and grieved him。 He consoled her； and coaxed her； in vague terms； that did not produce any effect。 So then he kissed her cheek； and dried her eyes with his own handkerchief； and that was not quite so ineffectual。 She gave a final sob； and said； with some slight remains of passion； 〃There； there； never heed me。 It takes a deal of patience to go through the world。〃 And so she left him。
He was not sorry to be alone a minute； and think。 This short dialogue with Jael gave him some insight into female character。 It made him suspect that he had been too timid with Grace Carden； and also that there were two women in the game instead of one。
When the time came to return he asked leave to borrow a horse…cloth。
He aired it by the fire； and remarked that it had turned very cold。
〃Why；〃 said Patty； 〃you have got your top…coat。 Well； you are a soft one。〃
〃And you are a sharp one；〃 said Henry； ironically。
When Jael came to the gig； Henry put the cloth over her shoulders。 〃'Twasn't for me； ye see；〃 said he： 〃'twas for my betters。〃
〃I like you for that；〃 said Patty。
Then there was much kissing； and shaking of hands； and promising to come again； and away they drove to Hillsborough。
On the road Henry； for the first time； was very respectful； as well as kind； to Jael。 She was soft and gentle； but rather silent and reserved。 They parted at the door of 〃Woodbine Villa。〃
Next day； Henry called early； and found Miss Carden alone。 His heart beat tumultuously。 She was very gracious； and hoped he had spent a pleasant day yesterday。
〃Pretty well。〃
〃Is that all？ Why I quite envied you your ride； and your companion。〃
〃She is a very good girl。〃
〃She is something more than that： but one does not find her out all at once。〃
Now it was Henry's turn。 But he was flustered； and thinking how he should begin。 And； while he hesitated； the lady asked him was he come to finish the bust。
〃No。 I didn't come for that。 I will finish it though。〃 And thus he was diverted from his purpose； for the moment。
He took a carving tool； and eyed his model； but soon laid down the tool； and said： 〃I haven't thanked you yet。 And I don't know how to thank you。〃
〃What for？〃
〃For what you sent to Mr。 Cheetham。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Grace； and blushed。 Then she turned it off； and said she thought if any body ought to thank her for that； it was Mr。 Cheetham。
〃Ay； for the order。 But the sweet words that came with it？ Do you think I don't prize them above all the orders in the world？〃
She colored high again。 〃What！ did he show you my note？〃
〃He did： and that has made me his friend。 Shall I tell you the effect of those words on me？〃
〃No； never mind。 But I'm glad I put them in； if they did you any good。〃
〃Any good？ They made me a new man。 I was defeated by the Trades： I was broken…hearted： and I hated every body。 Good Dr。 Amboyne had set me work to do； to save the lives of my fellow…creatures。 But I couldn't； I hated them so。 The world had been too unjust to me； I could not return it good for evil。 My heart was full of rage and bitterness。〃
〃That's a great pityat your age。 But really it is no wonder。 Yes； you have been cruelly used。〃 And the water stood in Grace's eyes。
〃Ay； but it is all over； those sweet words of yours made a man of me again。 They showed me you cared a little for me。 Now I have found a way to outwit the Trades。 Now I'm on the road to fortune。 I won't be a workman this time next year。 I'll be a master； and a thriving one。〃
〃Ay； do； do。 Beat them； defeat them； make them scream with envy。 But I am afraid you are too sanguine。〃
〃No； I can do it； if you will only give me another word of hope to keep me going； and oh； I need it； if you knew all。〃
Grace began to look uneasy。 〃Mr。 Little； can you doubt that you have my best wishes？〃 said she； guardedly； and much less warmly than she had spoken just before。
〃No； I don't doubt that； but what I fear is； that； when I have gained the hard battle； and risen in the world； it will be too late。 Too late。〃
Grace turned more and more uncomfortable。
〃Oh； pray wait a few months； and see what I can do； before you〃
Will it be believed that Mr。 Carden； who seldom came into this room at all； must walk in just at this moment； and interrupt them。 He was too occupied with his own affairs； to pay much attention to their faces； or perhaps he might have asked himself why the young man was so pale； and his daughter so red。
〃I heard you were here； Little； and I want to speak to you on a matter of some importance。〃
Grace took this opportunity； and made her escape from the room promptly。