it me you are asking such a question?" cried Patty, and turned her
head away with absurd mock-modesty.

"And so 'tis," said Dence; "ah, that is a different thing."

Henry thought that was no reason for Patty's staying at home; she ought
rather to go and hear the bans were cried all right.

At this proposal both sisters lifted up their hands, and he was
remonstrated with, and lectured, and at last informed that, if a girl
was in church when her bans were cried, her children would be all born
deaf and dumb.

"Oh, indeed!" said Little, satirically. "That's a fact in natural
history I was not aware of. Well, farmer, then let's you and I go by
ourselves."

So Patty stayed at home, in obedience to rural superstition, and Jael
stayed to keep her company, and Farmer Dence went to church out of
piety; and as for Henry, to tell the truth, he went to church to escape
the girls' tongues, and to be in a quiet, somniferous place, where he
could think out his plans undisturbed.

The men were no sooner gone than the sisters began to gossip hard.

"Eh, Jael, thou's gotten a prize."

"Not as I know of."

"I do adore a dark young man."

"So do I; but this one is not mine."

"I'll take his word before thine. Why, he calls thee his lass in his
very letter."

"Not he. Show me his letter."

"What will ye give me?"

"Nay, Patty, pray show it me."

"Well, and so I will."

She brought her the letter. Jael read it and changed color, and was
delighted for a moment or two; but soon her good sense and humility
prevailed. "'Twas to surprise you, like. I do know he looks higher than
me."

"More fool he. But I don't believe it."

"You may," said Jael, and turned the conversation to Patty's
approaching marriage; once launched in that direction, it flowed without
intermission till the men returned, and dinner smoked upon the board.

After dinner Henry watched an opportunity, and slipped out into the
yard, got the tools out, put his great-coat over them, and away to
Cairnhope Church. He knew better than go past Raby Hall to it: he went
back toward Hillsborough, full three miles, and then turned off the road
and got on the heather. He skirted the base of a heathery mound, and at
last saw the church on an elevation before him, made for it incautiously
over some boggy ground, and sank in up to his waist.

He extricated himself with considerable difficulty, and cast a woful
look at his clothes.

Then he turned to, and piled up a h