n I'd ha' been pleased enough to have
thy chance, my lass. Be a good girl, and forget not the good ways thy
grandmother has learned thee, and then I cast no doubt thou'lt do well."

Jenny assented with apparent meekness, inwardly purposing to forget them
as fast as she could. She ran into the garden when supper was over, to
gather a nosegay, if possible, of the few flowers left at that time of
year. She was just tucking a bit of southernwood into her bodice, when
a voice on the other side of the hedge said softly,--

"Jenny."

"Well, what do you want, Tom Fenton?" responded Jenny, in a tone which
was not calculated to make her visitor feel particularly welcome.

It was one of Jenny's standing grievances against Tom, that he would
call her by her name. Robin Featherstone called her plain "Mrs Jenny,"
which pleased her vanity much better.

"You're really going to-morrow, Jenny?"

"Of course I am," said Jenny.

"You'll forget me, like as not," said Tom, earnestly hoping to be
contradicted.

"Of course I shall," replied Jenny flippantly.

"I wish you wouldn't, Jenny," said Tom, with a meek humility that should
have disarmed Jenny's resentment, but only increased it. Like many
other foolish people, Jenny was apt to mistake pert speeches for
cleverness, and gentleness for want of manly spirit. "I wish you
wouldn't, Jenny. There isn't a soul as thinks as much of you as I do,
not in all the country-side. Nor there isn't one as 'll miss you like
me."

"I just wish you'd take up with somebody else, and give over plaguing
me," said Jenny mercilessly. "There's Ruth Merston, and Dolly Campion,
and Abigail--"

"I don't want ne'er a one on 'em," answered Tom, in a rather hurt tone.
"I've never thought, not a minute, o' nobody but you, Jenny, not since
we was a little lad and lass together. I've always loved you, Jenny.
Haven't you ne'er a kind word for me afore we part? May be a long day
ere we shall meet again."

"I'm sure I hope it will," said Jenny, half vexed at Tom's pertinacity,
and half amusing herself, for she thought it good fun to tease him.

"Don't you care the least bit for me, Jenny, dear?"

"No, I don't. Why should I?"

"But you used, Jenny, once. Didn't you, now? That day I brought you
them blue ribbons you liked so well, you said--don't you mind what you
said, dear heart?"

"I said a deal o' nonsense, I shouldn't wonder. Don't be a goose, Tom!
You can't think to bind a girl to what s