“He’s never knew what want is; and any way his heart’s not over tender naterally; but there, young women can do most anything with men folks when they’re good-lookin’ and have nice ways wi’ ’em.  There’s a sight of difference wi’ girls.  Some of ’em without any trouble get right into a man’s heart, and they’ll go through fire and water to please ’em; and others may be just as good-lookin’ and they have hard work to get any man to marry ’em.  I’ve wondered more’n a little about it, but it’s a mystery.”  She turned her kindly wrinkled face on me and said, “You’re one of them kind that can just wind a man round your finger, and I’m looking for better days at Oaklands.  My! but you could do lots of good, if you got him on your side.”

“Oh, Mrs. Blake, you don’t know anything about it, but you are to be disappointed I am sure.  But I can do something without any one’s help.  Good-bye.”

She took my hand, holding it for some time in silence; then she said softly:  “Dear; you can get into other folk’s hearts beside the men’s.”

CHAPTER IX.

An evening walk.

Thomas got his garden stuff distributed satisfactorily.  “It would done your heart good to see how pleased the Larkums was over their share:  I give ’em good measure, I tell you,” he informed me that evening, as I made an errand to the stables in order to interview him.

“That Mr. Bowen, her blind father, he come out too, and I’ve not got better pay for anything for years than what he give me,” Thomas continued solemnly.

“What did he give, you?” I asked.

“Well I can’t just go over his words, but it minded me of the blessing the preacher says over us before we go out of church, only this was all just for you and me.”

“You have found to-day that it is more blessed to give than to receive.”

“That Mrs. Blake wan’t far astray; but there, I wouldn’t let on to the likes of her that Mr. Winthrop might do more for them.  Anyway there’s no one gives more for the poor in the parish, nor anything nigh as much; only its taxes, and one don’t get credit for them.”

“It is only for want of thought, Thomas.  He has never been among the poor, to see their wants and sufferings.”

“But what makes you think, and the rest all forget?”

“I expect it is because my memory is better.  I could always remember my lessons at school better than the most of the pupils.”

“Ah, Miss, there’s more than the memory.  I wish there was more rich folks like you; it would be a better world for the poor.”