Little."

As a bone, put between two friendly dogs, causes a growl, so when a
handsome young man enters on the scene, I have seen young women lose a
little of that unmitigated sweetness which marked them a moment before.

With Grace, however, to snap and to repent generally followed in
a breath. "I hope you will have a happy day, dear, as happy as you
deserve." She then went to kiss her, but gave her cheek, instead of
her lips. "There," said she, in rather a flurried way, "don't keep Mr.
Little waiting."

Just as they drove off, Grace came to the window, after a slight
irresolution, and kissed her hand to them enchantingly; at which a
sudden flood of rapture rushed through Little's heart, and flushed his
cheek, and fired his dark eye; Grace caught its flash full in hers, and
instinctively retired a step. They were off.

"How bright and happy they look," said she to her father. And no wonder.

She sat down, and, somehow, she felt singularly dull and lonely.

Then she dressed for church, languidly. Then she went to church.
By-and-by she came back from church.

Then she sat down, in her bonnet, and felt alone in the world, and
sad; and at last she found herself quietly crying, as young ladies will
sometimes, without any visible cause.

Then she asked herself what on earth she was crying about, and herself
told her she was a little hysterical fool, and wanted a good beating.

Then she plucked up spirit, and dried her eyes. Then she took to
yawning, and said Sunday was a dull day, and life itself rather a
wearisome thing.

Then a servant came to inquire if she was at home.

"What, on Sunday? Of course not. Who is it?"

"Mr. Coventry, miss."

"I am at home."

CHAPTER X.

People that met Jael Dence and Henry Little driving to Cairnhope
were struck with their faces; his so dark, hers so fair, and both so
handsome: but the woman's lit up with lively delight, the man's clouded
and sorrowful, and his brow knit with care. This very day he must take
the lock off Cairnhope old church, in spite of his Uncle Raby. He had
got the requisite tools with him hidden in the gig; but, even should
he succeed, it was but the first step of a difficult and, perhaps,
dangerous enterprise; and he was entering on it all with a heart no
longer buoyed by hopeful love. But for his pledge to Mr. Cheetham he
could hardly have persisted in the struggle.

As for Jael Dence, she had no great reason to be happy either: the man
sh