r dropped his voice. "Well--it is. You sat in front of her
in church the other day, and she noticed how exactly your hair matched
her own. Ever since then she's been hankering for it, and at last
decided to get it. As she won't wear it till she goes off abroad, she
knows nobody will recognize the change. I'm commissioned to get it for
her, and then it is to be made up. I shouldn't have vamped all these
miles for any less important employer. Now, mind--'tis as much as my
business with her is worth if it should be known that I've let out her
name; but honor between us two, Marty, and you'll say nothing that
would injure me?"

"I don't wish to tell upon her," said Marty, coolly. "But my hair is
my own, and I'm going to keep it."

"Now, that's not fair, after what I've told you," said the nettled
barber. "You see, Marty, as you are in the same parish, and in one of
her cottages, and your father is ill, and wouldn't like to turn out, it
would be as well to oblige her. I say that as a friend. But I won't
press you to make up your mind to-night. You'll be coming to market
to-morrow, I dare say, and you can call then. If you think it over
you'll be inclined to bring what I want, I know."

"I've nothing more to say," she answered.

Her companion saw from her manner that it was useless to urge her
further by speech. "As you are a trusty young woman," he said, "I'll
put these sovereigns up here for ornament, that you may see how
handsome they are. Bring the hair to-morrow, or return the
sovereigns." He stuck them edgewise into the frame of a small mantle
looking-glass. "I hope you'll bring it, for your sake and mine. I
should have thought she could have suited herself elsewhere; but as
it's her fancy it must be indulged if possible. If you cut it off
yourself, mind how you do it so as to keep all the locks one way." He
showed her how this was to be done.

"But I sha'nt," she replied, with laconic indifference. "I value my
looks too much to spoil 'em. She wants my hair to get another lover
with; though if stories are true she's broke the heart of many a noble
gentleman already."

"Lord, it's wonderful how you guess things, Marty," said the barber.
"I've had it from them that know that there certainly is some foreign
gentleman in her eye. However, mind what I ask."

"She's not going to get him through me."

Percombe had retired as far as the door; he came back, planted his cane
on the coffin-stool, and l