me clothes made there, and always wore them at Mr. Merton's;
but I don't know," and he smiled, "that I did enter into any particulars
about their cut, indeed I never thought of this myself."

"I don't suppose you did, Jack," the girl said gently, for she knew how
absolutely truthful he was; "but you ought to have told me. But see,
they are getting ready to go into the tent, and I must help look after
the young ones."

"What a fine face she has!" Alice said; "but I don't think she quite
likes me, Jack."

"Not like you!" Jack said astonished, "what makes you think that? she
was sure to like you; why, even if nobody else liked you Nelly would,
because you have been so kind to me."

* * * * *

For the next few days the serious events of the night absorbed all
thought; indeed, it was not until the following Sunday afternoon that
Jack and Nelly Hardy met. Harry Shepherd, who generally accompanied them
in their walks upon this day, was still suffering from the effects of
the injuries he had received in the riot. Jack and his companion talked
over that event until they turned to come back.

Then after a pause the girl asked suddenly, "How do you like Alice
Merton, Jack?"

Jack was in no way taken by surprise, but, ignorant that the black eyes
were keenly watching him, he replied:

"Oh, I like her very much, I have often told you so, Nelly."

"Do you like her better than me, Jack?"

Jack looked surprised this time.

"What should put such a thought in your head, lass? You know I like you
and Harry better than any one in the world. We are like three brothers.
It is not likely I should like Alice Merton, whom I only see once a
month, better than you. She is very kind, very pleasant, very bright.
She treats me as an equal and I would do anything for her, but she
couldn't be the same as you are, no one can. Perhaps," he said, "years
on--for you know that I have always said that I should not marry till
I'm thirty, that's what my good friend told me more than ten years
ago--I shall find some one I shall like as well as you, but that will be
in a different way, and you will be married years and years before
that. Let me think, you are nearly seventeen, Nelly?" The girl nodded,
her face was turned the other way. "Yes, you are above a year younger
than I am. Some girls marry by seventeen; I wonder no one has been after
you already, Nelly; there is no girl in the village to compare with
you."