e uncomfortable than ever; he remembered the purpose for
which he had set out, and was sorry that he had called at the Thorn and
Thistle at all, even although the girl evidently favoured him more than
any of her other admirers.

"I just called to say I couldn't come for a walk with you this
afternoon," he said, looking on the ground. "You see I have an
appointment."

"Appointment!" cried the girl. "Who with?"

"Oh, with no one in particular; only I must keep it."

The girl's eyes flashed angrily. "Look here," she cried, "you are
still sweet on Alice Lister; I thought you had given up all that
Sunday-school lot."

"Well, I have noan been to Sunday School," said Tom.

"Ay, but you're going to meet Alice Lister now, and that is why you
can't go wi' me." Evidently the girl was very angry, and a look of
jealousy flashed from her eyes. Still there could be no doubt that she
was very fond of Tom and meant if possible to capture him.

"I can't go out wi' you this afternoon, and--and----but there, I'm off."

For a moment the girl seemed on the point of speaking to him still more
angrily, and perhaps of bidding him to leave her for good. She quickly
altered her mind, however, and seemed determined to use all her
blandishments.

"Ay, Tom," she said. "Tha'rt too good to throw thyself away on the
goody-goody Alice Lister sort. Tha'rt too much of a man for that, else
I should never have got so fond of thee."

"Art'a really fond of me, Polly?" asked Tom, evidently pleased by
Polly's confession.

"I'm not goin' to say any more," replied the girl. And then she
laughed. "I was thinkin' that after we'd been to Scott's Park you
might come back to tea. I don't believe father and mother would mind.
Father wur sayin' only this morning that you'd got brains. You took
three prizes at the Mechanics' Institute last winter, and he said that
if you got manufacturing on your own, you'd make brass."

"Did he say that?" asked Tom eagerly,

"Ay, he did, only this morning."

"But I have no capital," said Tom rather sadly.

"Father's saved money," replied Polly eagerly. "The Thorn and
Thistle's a good house and we have good company; and if father liked a
lad, especially if I recommended him, he could easily find money to
start a small mill. But there, I suppose you are only thinking of
Alice Lister."

The Town Hall clock chimed the three-quarters, and, much as he wanted
to stay with Polly, he moved towards the door and