he says when you give her blue
ribbons."

"I'd be bound to what I said, ribbons or no ribbons," said Tom firmly.
"But I see how it is--it's that scented idiot, Featherstone, has come
betwixt you and me. O Jenny, my dear love, don't you listen to him!
He'll not be bound to a word he says the minute it's not comfortable to
keep it. He'll just win your heart, Jenny, and then throw you o' one
side like a withered flower, as soon as ever he sees a fresh one as
suits him better. My dear maid--"

"I'm sure I'm mighty obliged to you, Mr Fenton!" said Jenny, really
angry now. "It's right handsome of you to liken me to a withered
flower. Mr Featherstone's a gentleman in a many of his ways, and
that's more nor you are, and I wish you good evening."

"Jenny, my dear, don't 'ee, now--"

But Jenny was gone.

Tom turned sorrowfully away. Before he had taken two steps, he was
arrested by a kindly voice.

"You made a mistake, there, Tom," it said. "But don't you lose heart;
it isn't too bad to be got over."

Tom stopped at once, and went back to the hedge, whence that kindly
voice had spoken.

"Is that you, Kate?" he said.

"Ay," answered the voice of Jenny's sister. Kate was not a very wise
girl, but she was less flighty and foolish than Jenny; and she had a
kind heart, which made her always wish to help anyone in trouble. "Tom,
don't be in a taking; but you've made a mistake, as I said. You know
not how to handle such a maid as Jenny."

"What should I have said, Kate? I'm fair beat out of heart, and you'll
make me out of charity with myself if you tell me 'tis my own fault."

"Oh, not so ill as that, Tom! But next time she bids you go and take up
with somebody else, just tell her you mean to do so, and `there are as
good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.' That's the way to tackle
the likes of her; not to look struck into the dumps, and fetch sighs
like a windmill."

"But I don't mean it, Kate," said Tom, looking puzzled.

"Oh, be not so peevish, Tom! Can't you _say_ so?"

"No," answered Tom, with sudden gravity; "I can't, truly. I've alway
looked for Jenny to be my wife one day, ever since I was as high as
those palings; but I'll not win her by untruth. There'd be no blessing
from the Lord on that sort of work. I can't, Kate Lavender."

"Well, I never did hear the like!" exclaimed Kate. "You can't think so
much of Jenny as I reckoned you did, if you stick at nought in that
way."

"I think