debts. If that
is so, it shows that his means cannot be very good." Then why had Mr.
Comfort taken upon himself expressly to say that they were good at
that interview before Mrs. Tappitt's party? That was the thought in
the widow's mind at the present moment. Mr. Comfort, however, went
on with his caution. "And then, when the happiness of such a girl as
Rachel is concerned, it is impossible to be too careful. Where should
we all be if we found that we had given her to a scamp?"

"Oh dear, oh dear! I don't think he can be a scamp;--he did take his
tea so nicely."

"I don't say he is;--I don't judge him. But then we should be
careful. Why didn't he pay his debts before he went away? A young man
should always pay his debts."

"Perhaps he's sent it down in a money-order," said Mrs. Ray. "They
are so very convenient,--that is if you've got the money."

"If he hasn't I hope he will, for I can assure you I don't want to
think badly of him. Maybe he will turn out all right. And you may be
sure of this, Mrs. Ray, that if he is really attached to Rachel he
won't give her up, because she doesn't throw herself into his arms at
his first word. There's nothing becomes a young woman like a little
caution, or makes a young man think more of her. If Rachel fancies
that she likes him let her hold back a while and find out what sort
of stuff he's made of. If I were her I should just tell him that
I thought it better to wait a little before I made any positive
engagement."

"But, Mr. Comfort, how is she to begin it? You see he calls her
Dearest Rachel."

"Let her say Dear Mr. Rowan. There can't be any harm in that."

"She mustn't call him Luke, I suppose."

"I think she'd better not. Young men think so much of those things."

"And she's not to say 'Yours affectionately' at the end?"

"She'll understand all that when she comes to write the letter better
than we can tell her. Give her my love; and tell her from me I'm
quite sure she's a dear, good girl, and that it must be a great
comfort to you to know that you can trust her so thoroughly." Then,
having spoken these last words, Mr. Comfort took himself away.

Rachel, sitting in the window of Mrs. Sturt's large front kitchen on
the other side of the green, could see Mr. Comfort come forth from
the cottage and get into his low four-wheeled carriage, which, with
his boy in livery, had been standing at the garden gate during the
interview. Mrs. Sturt was away among the milk-pans,