He turned to me abruptly.  “Have they never mentioned Mr. Winthrop’s trouble to you?”

“No, Thomas, they have not.”

“Well, that’s curious; but quality has different ways from nateral folks.  Well, you see, she was handsomer than any picture; looked as well as you’d think an angel could look, and better dressed than they generally seem to be; for any pictures I’ve seen of them they’ve only had a long cloth around them without cut or pattern, and their wings.  I’ve often thought they weren’t overhandy with the needle.  And the day for the wedding was sot.”  I stopped him there.

“Would you tell me this if you knew I should repeat all you said to Mr. Winthrop?”

“I guess not; he’d turn me off without my dinner, if he knew.”

“You may be sure I shall not tell him; but nevertheless it is not honest for us to be talking on such a subject.”

“I see you are like the rest of them.  You seemed to have such a fellow feeling for poor folks, we’ve concluded you were more like us than them.”

“Perhaps I am, Thomas; but gentle or simple, we ought to be alike honorable.  The Bible has only one code of morals for us all.”

“Very few that I know pays much attention to Bible rules.  But here we are at the Blakes’.  I’ll hitch the horse and carry in the bundles since you want them left here.  Hang it, if there ain’t that ugly critter of Dan’s coming for us.”

Thomas sprang back into the carriage, and looked a good deal alarmed as he saw me turn to meet Tiger and pat the animal’s huge head.

He fawned delightedly around me, licking my gloved hand whenever he could get the chance.

“You need not be afraid, Thomas.  I won’t let him hurt you.”

“I won’t risk him.  He’s the crossest brute in Cavendish.”

“Why, Tiger, what a character to get!”

To my surprise the dog looked up at Thomas, and uttered an angry growl.

“See, now; I believe the brute understands what I say.”

“Come with me, Tiger.”  I started for the house.  Tiger stood a moment uncertainly, and then trotted after me.  Mrs. Blake’s face was radiant when she opened the door in answer to my knock.

“You’re a thousand times welcome back; and my! but you’re needed.”

“That is encouraging news.  But, Mrs. Blake, won’t you hide Tiger away somewhere?  Thomas is afraid of him, and, I think, not without reason.”

“I wish’t Daniel ’d sell him; he frightens folks from the house,” she said, with much discontent, driving Tiger unceremoniously into the back porch.

Thomas soon had the bundles laid on the kitchen table, and the carriage turned homewards, while I began unrolling the prints and flannels, frocks and pinafores, for the Mill Road pensioners.  Mrs. Blake watched eagerly; but at last exclaimed: 

“Dear me! it must a cost you a mint of money to get all these.”

“About the price of one evening dress.”