d that public promise
as to his matrimonial intentions. Mrs. Sturt came into the cottage
parlour with the paper doubled into four, and with her finger on
a particular spot. To her it had seemed that Rowan's promise must
have been intended for Rachel, and it seemed also that nothing could
be more manly, straightforward, or gallant than that assurance. It
suited her idea of chivalry. But she was not quite sure that Rachel
would enjoy the publicity of the declaration, and therefore she was
prepared to point the passage out more particularly to Mrs. Ray.
"I've brought 'ee the account of it all," said she, still holding the
paper in her hand. "The gudeman,--he's done with t' paper, and you'll
keep it for good and all. One young man that we know of has made t'
finest speech of 'em all to my mind. Luik at that, Mrs. Ray." Then,
with a knowing wink at the mother, and a poke at the special words
with her finger, she left the sheet in Mrs. Ray's hand, and went her
way.

Mrs. Ray, who had not quite understood the pantomime, and whose eye
had not caught the words relating to marriage, saw however that the
column indicated contained the report of a speech made by Luke Rowan,
and she began it at the beginning and read it throughout. Luke had
identified himself with the paper, and therefore received from it
almost more than justice. His words were given at very full length,
and for some ten minutes she was reading before she came to the words
which Mrs. Sturt had hoped would be so delightful.

"What is it, mamma?" Rachel asked.

"A speech, my dear, made at the election."

"And who made it, mamma?"

Mrs. Ray hesitated for a moment before she answered, thereby letting
Rachel know full well who made the speech before the word was spoken.
But at last she did speak the word--"Mr. Rowan, my dear."

"Oh!" said Rachel; she longed to get hold of the newspaper, but she
would utter no word expressive of such longing. Since that evening on
which she had been bidden to look at the clouds she had regarded Luke
as a special hero, cleverer than other men around her, as a man born
to achieve things and make himself known. It was not astonishing
to her that a speech of his should be reported at length in the
newspaper. He was a man certain to rise, to make speeches, and to be
reported. So she thought of him; and so thinking had almost wished
that it were not so. Could she expect that such a one would stoop
to her? or that if he did so that she