eyes sparkled as before,--the bloom came back to her velvet
cheeks and her lips curled again into the bewitching smile that suited
them so well, and with her added years, were developed charms that she
had not possessed before.

Her swelling bust accentuated her tapering waist, and her beautifully
rounded arms, her well shaped, small hands,--her graceful carriage, all
combined to produce a perfect specimen of Yorkshire female lovliness.

Where hundreds were employed, it was not to be expected she would lack
admirers. She had many,--many more than she even imagined.

Though almost faultless in face and figure, yet she was not without some
faults.

She knew she was beautiful, and she was vain. Much of her apparent
artlessness was assumed. She was pleased to be admired, and felt
gratified to see the effect of her glance, as she favoured one with a
languishing look, and another with a haughty stare, or a wicked,
sparkling, mischief loving gleam,--transient on her part but fatally
permanent on susceptible hearts.

In her own heart she had never felt love,--she had never sounded the
depths of her own nature;--she was as yet a stranger to herself.

Amongst others, who were ever ready at her beck and call were two young
men,--both about her own age.--They are both dead now or this story
would not have been written. We will simply speak of them as Dick and
Jack. One was the overlooker under whom she worked, this was Dick, a
prime favourite with the masters, and a clever, honest chap he was.

Jack was known as "Th' oiler," his duty being to attend to the long
lines of shafting and revolving pullies. Much of his work, especially
the more dangerous part of it, had to be performed whilst the engine was
stopped.

Never were known two truer friends than Dick and Jack. After working
hours they were seldom separated. They worked together in the little
allotment garden which they jointly rented. Even the pig was a
partnership concern. Although they were friendly with all they came in
contact with, they never made any other special friendships. They were
satisfied to be with each other and so confidential were they, that they
each lived in the other's life.

Nicknames were common at that day, and Dick was generally spoken of as
"True Blue," because of his unswerving integrity. Jack had to be content
with the less euphonious title "Th' oiler."

They were neither of them blind to Susy's charms, and admiration blended
with pity,