, however,
to her note, by way of postscript, that he might give it to her
clothing club or coal club. Then came the news of Betty's death,
and an intimation from Katie that she thought Harry would be much
gratified if he would attend the funeral. He jumped at the
suggestion. All Englebourn, from the Hawk's Lynch to the Rectory,
was hallowed ground to him. The idea of getting back there, so
much nearer to Barton Manor, filled him with joy, which he tried
in vain to repress when he thought of the main object of his
visit on the present occasion.

He arrived in time to go and shake hands with Harry before
dinner; and, though scarcely a word passed between them, he saw
with delight that he had evidently given pleasure to the mourner.
Then he had a charming long evening with Katie, walking in the
garden with her between dinner and tea, and after tea discoursing
in low tones over her work-table, while Mr. Winter benevolently
slept in his arm-chair. Their discourse branched into many paths,
but managed always somehow to end in the sayings, beliefs, and
perfections of the young lady of Barton Manor. Tom wondered how
it had happened so when he got to his own room, as he fancied he
had not betrayed himself in the least. He had determined to keep
resolutely on his guard, and to make a confident of no living
soul till he was twenty-one, and, though sorely tempted to break
his resolution in favor of Katie, had restrained himself. He
might have spared himself all the trouble; but this he did not
know, being unversed in the ways of women, and all unaware of the
subtlety and quickness of their intuitions in all matters
connected with the heart. Poor, dear, stolid, dim-sighted
mankind, how they do see through us and walk round us!

The funeral on the Sunday afternoon between churches had touched
him much, being the first he had ever attended. He walked next
behind the chief mourner--the few friends, amongst whom David was
conspicuous, yielding place to him. He stood beside Harry in
church, and at the open grave, and made the responses as firmly
as he could, and pressed his shoulder against his, when he felt
the strong frame of the son trembling with the weight and burden
of his resolutely suppressed agony. When they parted at the
cottage door, to which Tom accompanied the mourner and his old
and tried friend David, though nothing but a look and a grasp of
the hand passed between them, he felt that they were bound by a
new and invi