I remember the sun was so bright on the white paper that I could scarce see to read it over her shoulder, she not noticing me, nor anything else, any more.  It was like this—­

’Dear Mattie,—­This comes hoping to find you well, as it leaves me at present.

’I don’t bear no malice over what your father said and done, but I’m not coming to his house.

’Now Mattie, if you have forgot me, or think more of some other chap, don’t let anything stand in the way of your letting me know it straight and plain.  But if you do remember how we used to walk from church, and the valentine, and the piece of poetry about Cupid’s dart that I copied for you out of the poetry-book, you will come and meet me in the little ash copse, you know where.  I may be prevented coming, for I’ve a lot of things to see to, and I am going to Liverpool on Thursday, and if we are to be married you will have to come to me there, for my business won’t bear being left, and I must get back to it.  But if so I will put a note in your prayer-book in the church.  So you had best look in there on your way up on Wednesday evening.

’I am taking this way of seeing you because I don’t want there to be any unpleasantness for you if you are tired of me or like some other chap better.

’I mean to take a wife back with me, Mattie, for I have done well, and can afford to keep one in better style than ever your father kept his.  Will you be her, dear?  So no more at present from your affectionate friend and lover,

Jack halibut.’

I am quicker at reading writing than Mattie, and I had finished the letter and was picking up the raspberries before she come to the end, where his name was signed with all the little crosses round it.

‘Well?’ says I, as she folded it up and unbuttoned two buttons of her dress to push it inside.  ‘Well,’ says I, ‘what’s the best news?’

‘He’s come home again,’ she says.  And I give you my word she did look like a rose as she said it.  ’He’s come home again, Jane, and it’s all right, and he likes me just as much as ever he did, God bless him.’

Not a word, you see, about his having made his fortune, which I might never have known if I hadn’t read the letter which I did, acting for the best.  Not that I think it was deceitfulness in the girl, but a sort of fondness that always kept her from noticing really important things.

‘And does he ask you to have him?’ says I.

‘Of course he does,’ she says; ’I never thought any different.  I never thought but what he would come back for me, just as he said he would—­just as he has.’

By that I knew well enough that she had often had her doubts.

‘Oh, well!’ says I, ’all’s well that ends well.

I hope he’s made enough to satisfy uncle—­that’s all.’

‘Oh yes, I think so,’ says Mattie, hardly understanding what I was saying.  ’I didn’t notice particular.  But I suppose that’s all right.’