the uprightness and
unselfishness and nobility of his life; and, on the whole, he was more
popular than she. Elisabeth was quite conscious of this; and--what was
more--she was glad of it. She, who had so loved popularity and
admiration, now wanted people to think more of Christopher than of her.
Once she had gloried in the thought that George Farringdon's son would
never fill her place in the hearts of the people of the Osierfield; now
her greatest happiness lay in the fact that he filled it more completely
than she could ever have done, and that at Sedgehill she would always be
second to him.

"Deary me, but it's like old times to see Master Christopher and Miss
Elisabeth having tea with us again," exclaimed Mrs. Bateson, after Caleb
had asked a blessing; "and it seems but yesterday, Mrs. Hankey, that
they were here talking over Mrs. Perkins's wedding--your niece Susan as
was--with Master Christopher in knickers, and Miss Elisabeth's hair
down."

Mrs. Hankey sighed her old sigh. "So it does, Mrs. Bateson--so it does;
and yet Susan has just buried her ninth."

"And is she quite well?" asked Elisabeth cheerfully. "I remember all
about her wedding, and how immensely interested I was."

"As well as you can expect, miss," replied Mrs. Hankey, "with eight
children on earth and one in heaven, and a husband as plays the trombone
of an evening. But that's the worst of marriage; you know what a man is
when you marry him, but you haven't a notion what he'll be that time
next year. He may take to drinking or music for all you know; and then
where's your peace of mind?"

"You are not very encouraging," laughed Elisabeth, "considering that I
am going to be married at once."

"Well, miss, where's the use of flattering with vain words, and crying
peace where there is no peace, I should like to know? I can only say as
I hope you'll be happy. Some are."

Here Christopher joined in. "You mustn't discourage Miss Farringdon in
that way, or else she'll be throwing me over; and then whatever will
become of me?"

Mrs. Hankey at once tried to make the _amende honorable_; she would not
have hurt Christopher's feelings for worlds, as she--in common with most
of the people at Sedgehill--had had practical experience of his kindness
in times of sorrow and anxiety. "Not she, sir; Miss Elisabeth's got too
much sense to go throwing anybody over--and especially at her age, when
she's hardly likely to get another beau in a hurry. Don't you go