Bentley. "I might do worse than take little Jenny. I
only hope she hasn't taken up with that clod-hopper Fenton while I've
been away, for want of a better. I almost think I'll have her. Dolly
Campion's like to have more money, 'tis true; but it isn't so much more,
and she's got an ugly temper with it. I shouldn't like a wife with a
temper--I've a bit too much myself; and two fires make it rather hot in
a house. (Mr Featherstone did not trouble himself to wonder how far
Jenny, or any other woman, might like a husband with a temper.) Ay, I
think I'll take Jenny--all things considered. I might look about me a
bit first, though. There's no hurry."

CHAPTER SIX.

WHEREIN JENNY MAKES HER LAST MISTAKE.

"I marvel Tom and Jenny Lavender doesn't make it up," said Persis
Fenton, as she laid the white cloth for supper on her little table.
"Here's Jenny got a fine sensible young woman, with God's grace in her
heart (more than ever I looked for), and Tom goes on living in that
cottage all by his self, and never so much as casts an eye towards her--
and that fond of her as he'd used to be, afore, too! Tony, man, don't
you think it's a bit queer?"

"I think," said old Anthony, looking up from his big Bible, which he was
reading by the fireside, "I think, Persis, we'd best leave the Lord to
govern His own world. He hasn't forgot that Tom's in it, I reckon, nor
Jenny neither."

"Well, no--but one'd like to help a bit," said Persis, lifting off the
pan to dish up her green pudding, which was made of suet and
bread-crumbs, marigolds and spinach, eggs and spice.

"Folks as thinks they're helping sometimes hinders," replied Anthony,
quietly taking off his great horn spectacles, and putting them away in
the case.

"Tell you what, Tony, I hate to see anything wasted," resumed Persis,
after grace had been said. "If there's only an end of thread over, I
can't abear to cast it away; I wind it on an old bobbin, thinking it'll
come in some time."

"The Lord never wastes nothing, wife," was Anthony's answer. "See how
He grows plants in void places, and clothes the very ruins with
greenery. It's always safe to trust Him with a man's life."

"Ay," half assented Persis, "but it do seem a waste like of them young
things' happiness."

"Where didst thou ever read in the Word, Persis, as happiness was the
first thing for a man to look to? The Lord's glory comes first, and
then usefulness to our fellows, a long way afore ha