and between him and life, or change his character and bent
of mind.

So when she discovered that James was a miser, Cora began to see other
things, because, once there's a spot for doubt to work, the tarnish soon
spreads. James would not buy her a ring, but put five pounds in the bank
for her, which didn't interest Cora much; and that's how it stood with
them; while as to the other pair, the friction was a bit different.

You see, Nicholas Caunter, the cowman, only got interested in his master's
sister when he found she was terrible interested in him. He was very good
looking and a simple, charming sort of a man unconscious of his fine
appearance; and there's no doubt that Mary Jane fell in love with him a
week after he came to Hartland. And, when he found that out, being
heartwhole at the time and poor as a mouse, he couldn't but see that to
wed Mary Jane would be a pretty useful step; because she had her own money
and was a nice enough woman, though not very good-looking.

However, she was healthy and hearty and there was a lot of her, so Nick
told himself it all looked very promising and proper and he started making
love to her, and foxed himself presently that it was the genuine article
and there weren't nobody for him on earth but Mary Jane.

Then, a week after he'd offered for her and she'd wasted no time saying
"Yes," but was in his arms almost afore the words had got out of his
mouth, the young woman brought Nicholas acquainted with Cora Dene, because
she said it was well he should know her brother's future bride.

So there they was--Cora betrothed to James White and Mary Jane White fixed
up with Nicholas Gaunter, though he'd only been at Hartland a month. And
then the trouble began. First, Cora slowly discovered that James was close
as a shut knife; and if she'd been clever enough to read a man's mouth and
eyes, she'd have seen his character stamped upon 'em. But that was the
first secret disturbance; and then Nicholas, he got a painful jar and
found out there was only one girl on earth for him and that was Cora.

He'd never been properly in love till then, and if poor Mary Jane was a
shadow before he met t'other girl, she sank to be less than nothing at all
so soon as Nicky had seen James White's sweetheart the second time.

In a fortnight, from being an easy-going creature, very fond of cows, and
with just an ordinary eye to the main chance, Nicholas Caunter found
himself alive and tingling to the soles