independence takes away all my pleasure in giving."

"Undermining! Why, Katie, I am sure I have heard you mourn over
their stubbornness and unreasonableness."

"Oh, yes; they are often provokingly stubborn and unreasonable,
and yet not independent about money, or anything they can get out
of you. Besides, I acknowledge that I have become wiser of late;
I used to like to see them dependent and cringing to me, but now
I dread it."

"But you would like David to give in about the singing, wouldn't
you?"

"Yes, if he would give in I should be very proud. I have learnt a
great deal from him; I used positively to dislike him; but, now
that I know him, I think him the best man in the parish. If he
ever does give in--and I think he will--it will be worth
anything, just because he is so independent."

"That's all very well; but what am I to do to show Harry Winburn
that I mean to be his friend, if he won't take money from me?"

"You have come over to his mother's funeral--he will think more
of that than of all the money you could give him; and you can
show sympathy for him in a great many ways."

"Well, I must try. By the way, about his love affair; is the
young lady at home? I have never seen her, you know."

"No she is away with an aunt, looking out for a place. I have
persuaded her to get one, and leave home again for the present.
Her father is quite well now, and she is not wanted."

"Well, it seems I can't do any good with her, then; but could I
not go and talk to her father about Harry? I might help him in
that way."

"You must be very careful; Simon is such an odd-tempered old
man."

"Oh, I'm not afraid; he and I are great chums; and a little soft
soap will go a long way with him. Fancy, if I could get him this
very morning to 'sanction Harry's suit,' as the phrase is, what
should you think of me?"

"I should think very highly of your powers of persuasion."

Not the least daunted by his cousin's misgivings, Tom started in
quest of Simon, and found him at work in front of the greenhouse,
surrounded by many small pots and heaps of finely sifted mould,
and absorbed in his occupation.

Simon was a rough, stolid Berkshire rustic, somewhat of a tyrant
in the bosom of his family, an unmanageable servant, a
cross-grained acquaintance; as a citizen, stiff-necked, and a
grumbler, who thought that nothing ever went right in the parish;
but, withal, a thoroughly honest worker; and, when allowed to go
his own way--