said brightly, "of course I can; he has been ever so
good to me, and I do love him so."

Then Patience Harrison slipped away, and left the mother and the child
together.

"The meeting is well over," she said as she returned to the shop.

"But the parting isn't over," was poor Uncle Bobo's lament; "and I tell
you what, when it comes it will break my heart. I shan't have nothing
left to live for; and the sooner I cut my cable the better."

Patience Harrison felt that it was useless to offer comfort just then,
and she remembered Bet had not arrived as usual, and turned out of the
row. Towards the market-place, on the way to Mrs. Skinner's cottage,
she met George Paterson. His face brightened, as it always did, when
they met.

"Well," he said, "have the bride and bride-groom come home?"

"Yes," she replied, "and I have given notice to quit."

"You have!" he said joyfully; "then you will come to me?"

"No, George, no--not yet."

"Not _yet_! When, then?" he asked quickly. "I was reading in the
paper the other day, that when a man is not heard of for seven years it
is lawful to marry another. It is getting on for twice seven years
since you were left desolate."

"My dear kind friend," Patience said, "I have waited so long and prayed
so often to be shown the right path, that I feel sure God will not
leave me without an answer; and till I am certain that my husband is
taken away by death, I could not be the wife of another man."

"Then you may wait till you are a hundred," George said impatiently.
"How _can_ you ever know?"

"Dear George, be patient with me. Do not be angry with me. I have
asked God for guidance, and He will give it in His own time."

"I am wrong to be hard on you, I know," was the reply; "but to see you
drifting alone, and with no home, is enough to madden any man when a
home is ready for you."

"I have got some strange news for you," Patience said, trying to change
the subject. "Our little Joy is Maggie Skinner's child. She left her
when destitute on Mr. Boyd's door-step."

"How do you know?"

"Because she is here in Yarmouth, and I have just left her and her
child together."

"Well, wonders never cease! and I suppose you know why Joe Skinner has
left the office?"

"That he may get entire rule in my poor sister's home, and grind every
penny out of her. The reason is plain enough."

"Ah! but there's another reason. He is dismissed from the office for
certain irregularities i