ant adding to Patience Harrison's heavy
burden of sorrow. So George Paterson kept the suspicion to himself,
and waited for confirmation of the report before he mentioned it.

Patience Harrison had nursed and cared for Joy as if she had been her
own child, and Uncle Bobo was not ungrateful.

"Well," he said, as she leaned against the door, a variety of articles
making a festoon over her head, and a bunch of fishing-tackle catching
a lock of her abundant hair, which was prematurely grey:--"Well, is the
grand affair coming off to-morrow?"

"Yes, they are to be married to-morrow at ten o'clock; but there's to
be no fuss. They are going to Cromer for a few days, and I have
promised to keep shop till they come home."

"And what's Joy to do without you?"

"I shall run over early every morning and late every evening, and poor
Bet Skinner is out of her wits with delight because I said I thought
you would let her stay by day and take my place."

"To be sure! to be sure! Only don't expect me to hold out a hand to
that old lady, Skinner's mother. Is she to be present at the wedding?"

"Yes, and so is Bet; and I have excused myself on account of looking
after the shop."

"Well, your poor sister is making a pretty hard bed for herself to lie
on, and I am afraid she will live to repent it; though, to be sure, we
can't call it marrying in haste. That sly fellow has been sneaking
about here for a long time. What's the mother going to do?"

"She will live where she is for the present, and everything will go on
the same, except that I cannot live with Skinner. I shall look out for
a situation in a shop, as soon as Joy is well again, and does not want
me. Or maybe I shall take one of the small houses on the Denes, and
let lodgings to folks who can put up with humble accommodation."

"You oughtn't to do any such thing," said Mr. Boyd. "You have been a
widow now between eleven and twelve years. A good man wants to make
you his wife--and," said Uncle Bobo, slapping his knee, "and why
shouldn't he?"

"Please do not speak of it, Mr. Boyd," Patience said. "Do you think
that I could ever marry any man while I am waiting for my husband's
return, and now, too, for my boy's? No! it is only pain to me to think
that any of my friends could think I should forget."

"You'll see the boy safe and sound before long, and you'll find the
salt water has washed a lot of nonsense out of him. He will come back,
but the other--never!"