n consternation.

I laughed loudly. "Lord, no! Not for a kingdom. It is my big brother
Harry."

Tom seemed relieved. He even sighed.

"I'm glad to hear you say it, George, for there's a lot of fine
athletic meetings coming on during the next three or four months and it
would be a pity to miss them for, for,---- Oh! hang it all! you know
what I mean. You're such a queer, serious, determined sort of
customer, that it's hard to say what you will do next."

He looked so solemn over the matter that I laughed again.

His kind-hearted old mother, who had been at work in the kitchen and
had overheard our conversation, came to the doorway and placed her arms
lovingly around our broad shoulders.

"Lots of time yet to think about getting married. And, let me whisper
something into your ears. It's an old woman's advice, and it's
good:--when you do think of marrying, be sure you get a wife with a
pleasant face and a good figure; a wife that other wives' men will turn
round and admire; for, you know, you can never foretell what kind of
temper a woman has until you have lived with her. A maid is always on
her best behaviour before her lover. And, just think what it would
mean if you married a plain, shapeless lass and she proved to have a
temper like a termagant! Now, a handsome lass, even if she has a
temper, is always--a handsome lass and something to rouse envy of you
in other men. And, after all, we measure and treasure what we have in
proportion as other people long for it. So, whatever you do, young
men, make sure she is handsome!"

"Good, sensible advice, Mrs. Tanner; and I mean to take it," said I.
"But I would be even more exacting. In addition to being sweet
tempered and fair of face and form, she must have curly, golden hair
and golden brown eyes to match."

"And freckles?" put in Mrs. Tanner with a wry face.

"No! freckles are barred," I added.

"But, golden hair and brown eyes are mighty rare to find in one
person," said Tom innocently.

"Of course they are; and the combination such as I require is so
extremely rare that my quest will be a long one. I am likely therefore
to enjoy my bachelorhood for many days to come."

"Good-bye, Mrs. Tanner. Good-bye, Tom; I am going down to the smithy
to see Jim."

I strolled away from my happy, contented friends, on to the main road
again and down the hill to the village, little dreaming how long it
would be ere I should have an opportunity of talking