is eternal
interests are settled,' but I notice that he trusts no man until he has
proved him honest."

"I don't believe in such Christians, John, and I hope there are not very
many of the same make."

"Indeed, mother, this union of a religious profession with a sharp
worldly spirit is the common character among our spinners. Jonathan has
four sons, and he has brought every one of them up in the same way."

"One of the four got married last week--married a girl who will have a
factory and four hundred looms for her fortune--old Aker's
granddaughter, you know."

"Yes, I know. Jonathan told me about it. He looked on the girl as a good
investment for _his_ family, and discussed her prospects just as he
would have discussed discounts or the money market."

Then John went to look after the condition of the cattle and horses on
the home farm. He found all in good order, told the farmer he had done
well, and made him happy with a few words of praise and appreciation.
But he said little to Mrs. Hatton on the subject, for his thoughts were
all close to the woman he loved. As they sat at supper he continually
wondered about her--where she was, what she was doing, what company she
was with, and even how she was dressed.

Mrs. Hatton did not always answer these queries satisfactorily. In fact,
she was a little weary of "dear Jane," and had already praised her
beyond her own judgment. So she was not always as sympathetic to this
second appeal for information as she might have been.

"I'll warrant, John," she answered a little judicially, "that Jane is
at some of the quality houses tonight; and she'll be singing or dancing
or playing bridge with one or other of that pale, rakish lot I see when
I drive through the town."

"Mother!"

"Yes, John, a bad, idle, lounging lot, that don't do a day's work to pay
for their living."

"They are likely gentlemen, mother, who have no work to do."

"Gentlemen! No, indeed! I will give them the first four letters of the
word--no more. They are not gentlemen, but they may be _gents_. We don't
expect much from _gents_, and how the women of today stand them beats
me."

John laughed a little, but he said he was weary and would go to his
room. And as he stood at Mrs. Hatton's side, telling her that he was
glad to be with her again, she found herself in the mood that enabled
her to say,

"John, my dear lad, you will soon marry, either Jane or some other
woman. You must do it, you know, fo