r to influence it in any
way.

We came once more upon the old lady, watching the skaters. She again
spoke to John, and looked at me with her keen, kind, blue eyes.

"I think I know who your friend is, though you do not introduce him."
(John hastily performed that ceremony.) "Tom, and I" (how funny to
hear her call our old bachelor doctor, "Tom!") "were wondering what had
become of you, Mr. Halifax. Are you stronger than you were in London?"

"Was he ill in London, madam?"

"No, indeed, Phineas! Or only enough to win for me Dr. and Mrs.
Jessop's great kindness."

"Which you have never come to thank us for. Never crossed our
door-sill since we returned home! Does not your conscience sting you
for your ingratitude?"

He coloured deeply.

"Indeed, Mrs. Jessop, it was not ingratitude."

"I know it; I believe it," she answered, with much kindness. "Tell me
what it was?"

He hesitated.

"You ought to believe the warm interest we both take in you. Tell me
the plain truth."

"I will. It is that your kindness to me in London was no reason for my
intruding on you at Norton Bury. It might not be agreeable for you and
Dr. Jessop to have my acquaintance here. I am a tradesman."

The little old lady's eyes brightened into something beyond mere
kindness as she looked at him.

"Mr. Halifax, I thank you for that 'plain truth.' Truth is always
best. Now for mine. I had heard you were a tradesman; I found out for
myself that you were a gentleman. I do not think the two facts
incompatible, nor does my husband. We shall be happy to see you at our
house at all times and under all circumstances."

She offered him her hand. John bowed over it in silence, but it was
long since I had seen him look more pleased.

"Well, then, suppose you come this evening, both of you?"

We assented; and on her further invitation John and I and the little
old lady walked on together.

I could not help watching Mrs. Jessop with some amusement. Norton Bury
said she had been a poor governess all her days; but that hard life had
left no shadow on the cheerful sunset of her existence now. It was a
frank, bright, happy face, in spite of its wrinkles, and its somewhat
hard Welsh features. And it was pleasant to hear her talk, even though
she talked a good deal, and in a decidedly Welsh accent. Sometimes a
tone or two reminded me slightly of--Ay, it was easy to guess why John
evidently liked the old lady.

"I know this road well