When the time came to return he asked leave to borrow a horse-cloth.

He aired it by the fire, and remarked that it had turned very cold.

“Why,” said Patty, “you have got your top-coat.  Well, you are a soft one.”

“And you are a sharp one,” said Henry, ironically.

When Jael came to the gig, Henry put the cloth over her shoulders.  “’Twasn’t for me, ye see,” said he:  “’twas for my betters.”

“I like you for that,” said Patty.

Then there was much kissing, and shaking of hands, and promising to come again, and away they drove to Hillsborough.

On the road Henry, for the first time, was very respectful, as well as kind, to Jael.  She was soft and gentle, but rather silent and reserved.  They parted at the door of “Woodbine Villa.”

Next day, Henry called early, and found Miss Carden alone.  His heart beat tumultuously.  She was very gracious, and hoped he had spent a pleasant day yesterday.

“Pretty well.”

“Is that all?  Why I quite envied you your ride, and your companion.”

“She is a very good girl.”

“She is something more than that:  but one does not find her out all at once.”

Now it was Henry’s turn.  But he was flustered, and thinking how he should begin.  And, while he hesitated, the lady asked him was he come to finish the bust.

“No.  I didn’t come for that.  I will finish it though.”  And thus he was diverted from his purpose, for the moment.

He took a carving tool, and eyed his model, but soon laid down the tool, and said:  “I haven’t thanked you yet.  And I don’t know how to thank you.”

“What for?”

“For what you sent to Mr. Cheetham.”

“Oh!” said Grace, and blushed.  Then she turned it off, and said she thought if any body ought to thank her for that, it was Mr. Cheetham.

“Ay, for the order.  But the sweet words that came with it?  Do you think I don’t prize them above all the orders in the world?”

She colored high again.  “What! did he show you my note?”

“He did:  and that has made me his friend.  Shall I tell you the effect of those words on me?”

“No; never mind.  But I’m glad I put them in, if they did you any good.”

“Any good?  They made me a new man.  I was defeated by the Trades:  I was broken-hearted:  and I hated every body.  Good Dr. Amboyne had set me work to do; to save the lives of my fellow-creatures.  But I couldn’t; I hated them so.  The world had been too unjust to me, I could not return it good for evil.  My heart was full of rage and bitterness.”

“That’s a great pity—­at your age.  But really it is no wonder.  Yes; you have been cruelly used.”  And the water stood in Grace’s eyes.

“Ay, but it is all over; those sweet words of yours made a man of me again.  They showed me you cared a little for me.  Now I have found a way to outwit the Trades.  Now I’m on the road to fortune.  I won’t be a workman this time next year.  I’ll be a master, and a thriving one.”