Something of the same was felt by his sister, partly on her own, partly on his account, but as soon as Jane became aware of his self torment, her affection and her good sense soon brought succour to them both.  She spoke of the life their mother had led since coming into Suffolk, related a hundred instances to prove how full of interest and contentment it had been, bore witness to the seeming improvement of health, and the even cheerfulness of spirits which had accompanied it.  Moreover, there was the medical assurance that life could not in any case have been prolonged; that change of place and habits counted for nothing in the sudden end which some months ago had been foretold.  Jane confessed herself surprised at the ease with which so great and sudden a change was borne; the best proof that could have been given of their mother’s nobleness of mind.  Once only had Mrs. Warburton seemed to think regretfully of the old home; it was on coming out of church one morning, when, having stood for a moment to look at the graveyard, she murmured to her daughter that she would wish to be buried at St. Neots.  This, of course, was done; it would have been done even had she not spoken.  And when, on the day after the funeral, brother and sister parted to go their several ways, the sadness they bore with them had no embitterment of brooding regret.  A little graver than usual, Will took his place behind the counter, with no word to Allchin concerning the cause of his absence.  He wrote frequently to Jane, and from her received long letters, which did him good, so redolent were they of the garden life, even in mid-winter, and so expressive of a frank, sweet, strong womanhood, like that of her who was no more.

Meanwhile his business flourished.  Not that he much exerted himself, or greatly rejoiced to see his till more heavily laden night after night, by natural accretion custom flowed to the shop in fuller stream; Jollyman’s had established a reputation for quality and cheapness, and began seriously to affect the trade of small rivals in the district.  As Allchin had foretold, the hapless grocer with the drunken wife sank defeated before the end of the year; one morning his shop did not open, and in a few days the furniture of the house was carried off by some brisk creditor.  It made Warburton miserable to think of the man’s doom; when Allchin, frank barbarian as he was, loudly exulted.  Will turned away in shame and anger.  Had the thing been practicable he would have given money out of his own pocket to the ruined struggler.  He saw himself as a merciless victor; he seemed to have his heel on the other man’s head, and to crush, crush—­

At Christmas he was obliged to engage a second assistant.  Allchin did not conceal his dislike of this step, but he ended by admitting it to be necessary.  At first, the new state of things did not work quite smoothly; Allchin was inclined to an imperious manner, which the newcomer, by name Goff, now and then plainly resented.  But in a day or two they were on fair terms, and ere long they became cordial.