Jacob looked at her with a wistful, dog-like devotion, and heaved a heavy sigh.  That unselfish and faithful youth was going through a rather hard probation, such as so often falls upon the best and warmest hearted of earth’s sons, who have been denied those outward graces that charm the fancy and take the eye.  He had long since divined the secret of the attachment betwixt Cuthbert and Cherry; and when urged by his father to press his own suit, had been backward in so doing.  On Cuthbert’s disappearance he had one day spoken openly to Cherry of his suspicions, and she had frankly told him all, begging him to keep their secret, and to hold off his own suit until Cuthbert’s quest should be over, and he could come to claim her as his own.

Truth to tell, Jacob had little belief in the finding of the lost treasure; but he did believe in Cuthbert, whom he loved only second to Cherry, and whom he would any day have set before himself.  He made Cherry a promise that it should be as she desired; that he would give her time to test Cuthbert’s sincerity before he spoke another word of marriage with her.  But he also timidly asked in return for the sacrifice he was making, and as a reward for his championship, that if Cuthbert should never return, if harm should befall him in the forest, or if some other maiden should win his heart and hand, that then Cherry should become his wife, and let him try to comfort her by his own devoted and life-long love.

Cherry had given the promise without overmuch persuasion.  What good would life be to her without Cuthbert? she had argued.  If she could make any one else happy, she might as well do it as not.  Jacob was very good.  He would be kind to her and patient with her, whilst her aunt Susan would be just the reverse.  Life under such conditions, beneath that unsympathetic rule, would be well-nigh unendurable.  It would be better for her own sake to wed Jacob and escape from it all.  And when the promise had been given, it seemed so little likely that she would be called upon to fulfil it!  Even now she scarcely contemplated it seriously, for her heart was filled with hope.  Was she herself not going towards the forest and Cuthbert?  Surely she would hear somewhat of him there!

“I shall ask none other woman to be my wife until I know that thou canst never be mine, Cherry,” answered Jacob, with gentle obstinacy.  “I shall never wish aught of ill to Cuthbert.  Thou knowest that I would stand betwixt him and peril an I might.  But till he stands at thy side and claims thee as his own, I will not give thee up.  I can bide my time—­I can wait and watch.”

She looked at him with suddenly dilating eyes, as though a qualm of fear had smitten her.

“But, Jacob, if he were to come hither when I be gone, thou wouldst not hinder him from finding me; thou wouldst not do him any ill turn that we might be kept apart?  That would not be fair; it would be an ill thing.  It would be—­”