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ther。 Don't you go near that Grace Carden； don't visit any one that knew us in better days。〃
〃Why； what have we to be ashamed of？〃 said Henry。 〃'Tisn't as if we sat twiddling our thumbs and howling； 'We have seen better days。' And 'tisn't as if we asked favors of anybody。 For my part I don't care who knows I am here； and can make three hundred a year with my own hands and wrong no man。 I'd rather be a good workman in wood and steel than an arrogant old fool like your b。 No； I won't own him for yours or mine eithercall him Raby。 Well； I wouldn't change places with him； nor any of his sort： I'm a British workman； and worth a dozen Rabysuseless scum！〃
〃That you are； dear； so don't demean yourself to give any of them lessons。 Her godfather would be sure to hear of it。〃
〃Well； I won't； to please you。 But you have no more pluck than a chickenbegging your pardon； mother。〃
〃No； dear；〃 said Mrs。 Little； humbly； quite content to gain her point and lose her reputation for pluck； if any。
Henry worked regularly； and fast； and well； and in less than a fortnight a new set of his carving…tools were on view in Hillsborough； and another in London； for it was part of Mr。 Cheetham's strategy to get all the London orders； and even make London believe that these superior instruments had originated in Hillsborough。
One day Miss Carden called and saw Bayne in the office。 Her vivid features wore an expression of vexation； and she complained to him that the wood…carver had never been near her。
Bayne was surprised at that； but he was a man who always allayed irritation on the spot。 〃Rely on it； there's some reason；〃 said he。 〃Perhaps he has not got settled。 I'll go for him directly。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said the young lady。 Then in the same breath； 〃No； take me to him； and perhaps we may catch him carvingcross thing！〃
Bayne assented cheerfully； and led the way across a yard； and up a dirty stone stair； which； solid as it was； vibrated with the powerful machinery that steam was driving on every side of it。 He opened a door suddenly； and Henry looked up from his work； and saw the invaders。
He stared a little at first； and then got up and looked embarrassed and confused。
〃You did not keep your word； sir；〃 said Grace； quietly。
〃No；〃 he muttered； and hung his head。
He seemed so confused and ashamed； that Bayne came to his assistance。 〃The fact is； no workman likes to do a hand's…turn on Saturday afternoon。 I think they would rather break Sunday than Saturday。〃
〃It is not that；〃 said Henry； in a low voice。
Grace heard him； but answered Mr。 Bayne： 〃Oh dear； I wish I had known。 I fear I have made an unreasonable request： for； of course； after working so hard all the weekbut then why did you let me purchase the tools to carve with？ Papa says they are very dear； Mr。 Bayne。 But that is what gentlemen always say if one buys anything that is really good。 But of course they WILL be dear； if I am not to be taught how to use them。〃 She then looked in Mr。 Bayne's face with an air of infantine simplicity： 〃Would Mr。 Cheetham take them back； I wonder； under the circumstances？〃
At this sly thrust； Bayne began to look anxious； but Henry relieved him the next moment by saying； in a sort of dogged way； 〃There； there； I'll come。〃 He added； after a pause； 〃I will give you six lessons； if you like。〃
〃I shall be so much obliged。 When will you come； sir？〃
〃Next Saturday； at three o'clock。〃
〃I shall be sure to be at home； sir。〃
She then said something polite about not disturbing him further； and vanished with an arch smile of pleasure and victory； that disclosed a row of exquisite white teeth； and haunted Henry Little for many a day after。
He told his mother what had happened； and showed so much mortified pride that she no longer dissuaded him from keeping his word。 〃Only pray don't tell her your name；〃 said she。
〃Well； but what am I to do if she asks it？〃
〃Say Thompson； or Johnson； or anything you like； except Little。〃
This request roused Henry's bile。 〃What； am I a criminal to deny my name？ And how shall I look； if I go and give her a false name； and then she comes to Bayne and learns my right one？ No； I'll keep my name back； if I can； but I'll never disown it。 I'm not ashamed of it； if you are。〃
This reduced poor Mrs。 Little to silence； followed； in due course； by a few meek； clandestine tears。
Henry put on his new tweed suit and hat； and went up to the villa。 He announced himself as the workman from Cheetham's； and the footman； who had probably his orders； ushered him into the drawing… room at once。 There he found Grace Carden seated； reading； and a young woman sewing at a respectful distance。 This pair were types； Grace； of a young English gentlewoman； and Jael Dence of a villager by unbroken descent。 Grace was tall； supple； and serpentine； yet not thin； Jael was robust and ample； without being fat； she was of the same height； though Grace looked the taller。 Grace had dark brown eyes and light brown hair； and her blooming cheek and bewitching mouth shone with expression so varied； yet vivid； and always appropriate to the occasion； grave or gay； playful or dignified； that her countenance made artificial faces； and giggling in…the…wrong…place faces； painfully ridiculous。 As for such faces as Jael's； it killed them on the spot； but that was all。 Jael's hair was reddish； and her full eyes were gray； she was freckled a little under the eyes； but the rest of her cheek full of rich pure color； healthy； but not the least coarse： and her neck an alabaster column。 Hers was a meek； monotonous countenance； but with a certain look of concentration。 Altogether； a humble beauty of the old rural type； healthy； cleanly； simple； candid； yet demure。
Henry came in； and the young lady received him with a manner very different from that she had worn down at the works。 She was polite； but rather stiff and dignified。
He sat down at her request； and； wondering at himself； entered on the office of preceptor。 He took up the carving…tools； and explained the use of several； then offered； by way of illustration； to work on something。
〃That will be the best way； much；〃 said Grace quietly； but her eye sparkled。
〃I dare say there's some lumber to be found in a great house like this？〃
〃Lumber？ why； there's a large garret devoted to it。 Jael； please take him to the lumber…room。〃
Jael fixed her needle in her work； and laid it down gently on a table near her； then rose and led the way to the lumber…room。
In that invaluable repository Henry soon found two old knobs lying on the ground （a four…poster had been wrecked hard by） and a piece of deal plank jutting out of a mass of things。 He pulled hard at the plank； but it was long； and so jammed in by miscellaneous articles； that he could not get it clear。
Jael looked on demurely at his efforts for some time； then she suddenly seized the plank a little higher up。 〃Now； pull；〃 said she； and gave a tug like a young elephant： out came the plank directly； with a great rattle of dislocated lumber。
〃Well； you are a strong one；〃 said Henry。
〃Oh； one and one makes two； sir；〃 replied the vigorous damsel； modestly。
〃That is true； but you thr