So Cora went to her chamber after a busy day; but she was one of them terrible clear-minded women who work when they work and sleep when they sleep, and she never had a better night’s rest.

Two days later came news of where Nicholas was stopping; and there also arrived for Cora a little box left by a farm-hand from Hartland.  There wasn’t no letter with it, but Cora found herself disappointed in a way, because she rather liked the thought of fetching James White up for breach if it could be done; and the fact that he had so far shunned the prospect of the law as to send her back the trinket showed that he was fearful too.  Because James White had a proper dread of lawyers.

And then came the last fine act but one of her make-believe, and when Mrs. Dene had swallowed the pill and begun to see that, but for the shame, she’d be a lot better with Cora than without, and set to work to make her niece bide along with her and live it down, the girl vowed that such a thought was beyond belief and she couldn’t face Little Silver as a forlorn woman passed over and disgraced.

“I’ll go to Moreton,” she said, “and find honest work; and as the world’s crying out for cooks, with a hand like mine, no doubt I’ll struggle in somewhere and make new friends; but to stop here all forlorn without a man’s courage and strength to defend me, be asking too much.  And I never shall forget your goodness and loving-kindness, Aunt Sarah; and the Lord won’t forget ’em either.  I’ll always pray for you in my prayers, and I’ll always pray for that poor chap, Nicholas Caunter, as saved me alive, because when it got to Mr. White’s ears as he’d done so and kept me from a watery death, him and his sister turned against poor Nicholas and threw him over, and he’s a wanderer on the face of the earth this minute, though such a clever, big-hearted soul as him be sure to find a warm welcome somewhere, I hope.”

Well, Mrs. Dene, who was broke down by now and terrible wishful for Cora to stay, pleaded with her in vain to do so; but the girl went on cooking to a marvel, and excelling in surprises, and being a proper angel in the house for a fortnight; and then crying oceans of tears, she packed her belongings, and Farmer Maitland, the widower, carried her off to Moreton in his market cart on market day.

’Tis said he offered her marriage before they were halfway up Merripit Hill and out of sight of her native village; but he was unsuccessful, and afore noon Cora found herself in the arms of Nicholas Caunter.  Two days after, the day being Sunday, him and her were married and off to Ashburton for a bit of a honeymoon.  And then, when their united money was down to ten pounds, Cora struck her last stroke.

She waited and watched the Moreton Trumpet, the paper her aunt took up, and then come the expected advertisement telling how Mrs. Sarah Dene of Little Silver was wishful to employ a man and his wife; and on the day after it appeared, off she went along with Nicholas in a hired trap and drove into the village so bold as need be.