, it would not fit Mr. Tryan; and so, with that remarkable
resemblance as to mental processes which may frequently be observed to
exist between plain men and philosophers, they concluded that the less
they said about him the better.

Among all Janet's neighbourly pleasures, there was nothing she liked
better than to take an early tea at the White House, and to stroll with
Mr. Jerome round the old-fashioned garden and orchard. There was endless
matter for talk between her and the good old man, for Janet had that
genuine delight in human fellowship which gives an interest to all
personal details that come warm from truthful lips; and, besides, they
had a common interest in good-natured plans for helping their poorer
neighbours. One great object of Mr. Jerome's charities was, as he often
said, 'to keep industrious men an' women off the parish. I'd rether given
ten shillin' an' help a man to stand on his own legs, nor pay
half-a-crown to buy him a parish crutch; it's the ruination on him if he
once goes to the parish. I've see'd many a time, if you help a man wi' a
present in a neeborly way, it sweetens his blood--he thinks it kind on
you; but the parish shillins turn it sour--he niver thinks 'em enough.'
In illustration of this opinion Mr. Jerome had a large store of details
about such persons as Jim Hardy, the coal-carrier, 'as lost his hoss'.
and Sally Butts, 'as hed to sell her mangle, though she was as decent a
woman as need to be'; to the hearing of which details Janet seriously
inclined; and you would hardly desire to see a prettier picture than the
kind-faced white-haired old man telling these fragments of his simple
experience as he walked, with shoulders slightly bent, among the
moss-roses and espalier apple-trees, while Janet in her widow's cap, her
dark eyes bright with interest, went listening by his side, and little
Lizzie, with her nankeen bonnet hanging down her back, toddled on before
them. Mrs. Jerome usually declined these lingering strolls, and often
observed, 'I niver see the like to Mr. Jerome when he's got Mrs. Dempster
to talk to; it sinnifies nothin' to him whether we've tea at four or at
five o'clock; he'd go on till six, if you'd let him alone--he's like off
his head.' However, Mrs. Jerome herself could not deny that Janet was a
very pretty-spoken woman: 'She aly's says, she niver gets sich pikelets'
as mine nowhere; I know that very well--other folks buy 'em at
shops--thick, unwholesome things, yo