rally
remarked upon by the people in the town, and many prophesied that the
time would come when an open rupture would take place between these two
men.

"You see," said one old weaver, when the matter was being discussed,
"Paul's noan religious. He believes i' nowt--not but what he's a good
lad, but his heart is closed to faith. He has no anchor anywhere, and
when a man has noan of the grace of God in his heart he's hard.
Onything may happen."

The autumn that his mother came he was invited to stand as a councillor
for one of the wards in the borough. But this he declined. He was
glad he had received this invitation, because it gave his mother joy,
but the memory of his failure during the political contest still
remained with him. He felt he could not be satisfied with the lesser
when he had been refused the greater.

"No, mother," he said when he told her what had happened. "I'm not
going to do this. I mean to be Member for Brunford, and if I take on
this work it would stand in my way."

"You've never forgotten that lass, Paul?" said his mother.

"No, and I never shall!"

"You're not much of a lover," she said, looking towards him with a
wistful smile.

"What do you mean, mother?"

"I mean," she said, "that if I were a lad and had made up my mind to
win a lass, I would do it. I wouldn't stay away from her! If you love
her, Paul, tell her so. She'll think none the less of you!"

"How can I?" he asked. "I don't know where she lives."

"And have never taken the trouble to find out!" was his mother's
retort. "I tell you, my boy, no lass that ever lived thinks more of a
lad for staying in the background. You don't know what Wilson's doing!"

"No," replied Paul. "But I do not think she has promised him anything;
in fact, I am sure she has not. I saw him only to-day, and if she had
promised him, he would not look as he did look! All the same, I feel
as though my lips were sealed, mother! If I went to her now she would
scorn me, and I couldn't bear that. No, I must wait my time, and when
that time comes neither Wilson nor anyone else shall stand in my way!"

"If she could see you two together," replied his mother fondly,
"there's not the slightest doubt as to which she would choose!"

"Nonsense, mother!" said Paul with a laugh, and yet her words cheered
him in spite of himself.

"I'm not so old, my boy, but what I know what a lass feels, and what
she likes!"

"I'm nobody yet," said Paul.