‘How that poor lad stared at me!’ said the young wife.

‘Yes, dear; I saw that he did.’

‘He is one of the village, I suppose?’

’One of the neighbourhood.  I think he lives with his mother a mile or two off.’

‘He knows who we are, no doubt?’

’O yes.  You must expect to be stared at just at first, my pretty Gertrude.’

’I do,—­though I think the poor boy may have looked at us in the hope we might relieve him of his heavy load, rather than from curiosity.’

‘O no,’ said her husband off-handedly.  ’These country lads will carry a hundredweight once they get it on their backs; besides his pack had more size than weight in it.  Now, then, another mile and I shall be able to show you our house in the distance—­if it is not too dark before we get there.’  The wheels spun round, and particles flew from their periphery as before, till a white house of ample dimensions revealed itself, with farm-buildings and ricks at the back.

Meanwhile the boy had quickened his pace, and turning up a by-lane some mile and half short of the white farmstead, ascended towards the leaner pastures, and so on to the cottage of his mother.

She had reached home after her day’s milking at the outlying dairy, and was washing cabbage at the doorway in the declining light.  ’Hold up the net a moment,’ she said, without preface, as the boy came up.

He flung down his bundle, held the edge of the cabbage-net, and as she filled its meshes with the dripping leaves she went on, ’Well, did you see her?’

‘Yes; quite plain.’

‘Is she ladylike?’

‘Yes; and more.  A lady complete.’

‘Is she young?’

‘Well, she’s growed up, and her ways be quite a woman’s.’

‘Of course.  What colour is her hair and face?’

‘Her hair is lightish, and her face as comely as a live doll’s.’

‘Her eyes, then, are not dark like mine?’

’No—­of a bluish turn, and her mouth is very nice and red; and when she smiles, her teeth show white.’

‘Is she tall?’ said the woman sharply.

‘I couldn’t see.  She was sitting down.’

’Then do you go to Holmstoke church to-morrow morning:  she’s sure to be there.  Go early and notice her walking in, and come home and tell me if she’s taller than I.’

‘Very well, mother.  But why don’t you go and see for yourself?’

’I go to see her!  I wouldn’t look up at her if she were to pass my window this instant.  She was with Mr. Lodge, of course.  What did he say or do?’

‘Just the same as usual.’

‘Took no notice of you?’

‘None.’

Next day the mother put a clean shirt on the boy, and started him off for Holmstoke church.  He reached the ancient little pile when the door was just being opened, and he was the first to enter.  Taking his seat by the font, he watched all the parishioners file in.  The well-to-do Farmer Lodge came nearly last; and his young wife, who accompanied him, walked up the aisle with the shyness natural to a modest woman who had appeared thus for the first time.  As all other eyes were fixed upon her, the youth’s stare was not noticed now.