er cooled, and he felt that he had
suffered himself to be misled by a hasty judgment. That no evil had
been in the young man's mind he was sure. It was this change that
had prompted him to make an effort to recall him. But, the effort
was fruitless.

On Jenny's return home, after her last interview with Mark, she
found a servant there with a summons from Mr. Lofton. With much
reluctance she repaired to the mansion house. On meeting with the
old gentleman he received her in a kind but subdued manner; but, as
for Jenny herself, she stood in his presence weeping and trembling.

"Jenny," said Mr. Lofton, after the girl had grown more composed,
"when did you first meet my grandson?"

Jenny mentioned the accidental meeting on the day before, and the
call at the cottage in the morning.

"And you saw him first only yesterday?"

"Yes."

"What did he say when he called this morning?"

"He asked for my mother."

"Your mother?"

"Yes. I told him that my mother was dead, and that I lived with Mrs.
Lee. He then wanted to see her; but I said that she had gone over to
your house."

"What did he say then?"

"He spoke of you, and said you were a good man, and that we no doubt
found you a good landlord. I had mentioned that you owned our
cottage."

Mr. Lofton appeared affected at this.

"What then?" he continued.

"He told me who he was, and then asked me my name. When I told him
that it was Jenny, he said, it was a good name, and that he always
liked the sound of it, for his mother's name was Jenny. Then he
asked me, if I had known his mother, and when I said yes, he wanted
to know if I loved her. I said yes--for you know we all loved her.
Then he covered his face with his hands, and I saw the tears coming
through his fingers. 'Because you know my mother, and loved her,
Jenny,' said he, 'we will be friends.' Afterwards he asked me a
great many questions about her, and listened with the tears in his
eyes, when I told him of many things she had said and done the last
time she was up here. We were talking together about his mother,
when Mrs. Lee came in. She spoke cross to him, and threatened to
complain to you, if he came there any more. He went away angry. But
I'm sure he meant nothing wrong, sir. How could he and talk as he
did about his mother in heaven?"

"But, how came you to meet him, in the woods, Jenny?" said Mr.
Lofton. "Did he tell you that he would wait there for you?"

"Oh, no, sir. The meeting was accid