of
Stapleton's. He begins to think of the girls now, Jacob; but, as the
old buffer, her father, says, `it's all human natur'.' Howsomever, I
never interferes in these matters: they seem to be pretty well matched,
I think."

"How do you mean?"

"Why, as for good looks, they be well enough matched, that's sure; but I
don't mean that, I mean, he is quite as knowing as she is, and will
shift his helm as she shifts hers. 'Twill be a long running fight, and
when one strikes, t'other won't have much to boast of. Perhaps they may
sheer off after all--perhaps they may sail as consorts; God only knows;
but this I knows, that Tom's sweetheart may be as tricky as she pleases,
but Tom's wife won't be--'cause why? He'll keep her in order. Well,
good-night; I have a long walk."

When I returned home I found Mary alone. "Has Tom been here?" inquired
I.

"What makes you ask that question?" replied Mary.

"To have it answered--if you have no objection."

"Oh, no! Well, then, Mr Jacob, Tom has been here, and very amusing he
has been."

"So he always is," replied I.

"And where may you have been?" I told her. "So you saw old Dominie.
Now, tell me, what did he say about me?"

"That I shall not tell," replied I; "but I will tell you this, that he
will not think about you any more; and you must not expect ever to see
him again."

"But recollect that he promised."

"He kept his promise, Mary."

"Oh, he told you so, did he? Did he tell you all that passed?"

"No, Mary, he never told me that he had been here, neither did he tell
me what had passed; but I happen to know all."

"I cannot understand that."

"Still, it is true; and I think, on the whole, you behaved pretty well,
although I cannot understand why you gave him a kiss at parting."

"Good heaven! where were you? You must have been in the room. And you
heard every word that passed?"

"Every word," replied I.

"Well," said Mary, "I could not have believed that you could have done
so mean a thing."

"Mary, rather accuse your own imprudence; what I heard was to be heard
by everyone in the street as well as by me. If you choose to have love
scenes in a room not eight feet from the ground, with the window wide
open, you must not be surprised at every passer-by hearing what you
say."

"Well, that's true. I never thought of the window being open; not that
I would have cared if all the world had heard me, if _you_ had not."

It never occurred to me ti