For a minute or two Bell did not speak.  Then, with deeper insight into her daughter’s heart than her husband, in spite of his greater knowledge of the events that had happened to affect it, she said,—­

’If thou’s thinking on a match between ’em, it ’ll be a long time afore th’ poor sad wench is fit t’ think on another man as sweetheart.’

‘A said nought about sweethearts,’ replied he, as if his wife had reproached him in some way.  ‘Woman’s allays so full o’ sweethearts and matteremony.  A only said as a’d thowt once as Philip had a fancy for our lass, and a think so still; and he’ll be worth his two hunder a year afore long.  But a niver said nought about sweethearts.’

CHAPTER XXI

A REJECTED SUITOR

There were many domestic arrangements to be made in connection with the new commercial ones which affected Hepburn and Coulson.

The Fosters, with something of the busybodiness which is apt to mingle itself with kindly patronage, had planned in their own minds that the Rose household should be removed altogether to the house belonging to the shop; and that Alice, with the assistance of the capable servant, who, at present, managed all John’s domestic affairs, should continue as mistress of the house, with Philip and Coulson for her lodgers.

But arrangements without her consent did not suit Alice at any time, and she had very good reasons for declining to accede to this.  She was not going to be uprooted at her time of life, she said, nor would she consent to enter upon a future which might be so uncertain.  Why, Hepburn and Coulson were both young men, she said, and they were as likely to marry as not; and then the bride would be sure to wish to live in the good old-fashioned house at the back of the shop.

It was in vain she was told by every one concerned, that, in case of such an event, the first married partner should take a house of his own, leaving her in undisputed possession.  She replied, with apparent truth, that both might wish to marry, and surely the wife of one ought to take possession of the house belonging to the business; that she was not going to trust herself to the fancies of young men, who were always, the best of them, going and doing the very thing that was most foolish in the way of marriage; of which state, in fact, she spoke with something of acrimonious contempt and dislike, as if young people always got mismatched, yet had not the sense to let older and wiser people choose for them.

’Thou’ll not have been understanding why Alice Rose spoke as she did this morning,’ said Jeremiah Foster to Philip, on the afternoon succeeding the final discussion of this plan.  ’She was a-thinking of her youth, I reckon, when she was a well-favoured young woman, and our John was full of the thought of marrying her.  As he could not have her, he has lived a bachelor all his days.  But if I am not a vast mistaken, all that he has will go to her and to Hester, for all that Hester is the child of another man.  Thee and Coulson should have a try for Hester, Philip.  I have told Coulson this day of Hester’s chances.  I told him first because he is my wife’s nephew; but I tell thee now, Philip.  It would be a good thing for the shop if one of ye was married.’