to lose her, that he became aware how
dear she was to his old heart. But what could he do, now that she
had given herself to Jonas Kink? Of the manner in which this had
been brought about he knew nothing. Had he been told he would
have stormed, and insisted on the engagement coming to an end. But
would this have mended matters? Would it not have made Mehetabel's
position in the house only more insupportable?

He remained silent and depressed for a week, and when the girl
was in the room followed her with his eyes, with a kindly,
regretful light in them. When she passed near him, he held out
his hand, took hers, squeezed it, and said, "Matabel, we shall
miss you:--wun'erful--wun'erful!"

"Dear father!" she would answer, and return the pressure of his
hand, whilst her eyes filled.

"I hope you'll be happy," he would say; then add, "I suppose you
will. Mother says so, and wimen knows about them sort o' things
better nor we."

To his wife Simon said, "Spare nothing. Give her a good outfit,
just as if she was our own daughter. She has been a faithful
child, and has saved us the expense and worrit of a servant,
and I will not have it said--but hang it! what odds to me what
is said? I will not have her feel that we begrudge her aught.
She has no father and mother other than we, and we must be to
her all that we can."

"Leave that to me," said the wife.

Mainly through the instrumentality of Mrs. Verstage the marriage
was hastened on; it was to be as soon as the banns had been called
thrice.

"Wot's the good o' waitin'?" asked Mrs. Verstage, "where all is
pleasant all round, and all agreed?"

Mehetabel was indifferent, even disposed to have the wedding
speedily, there was no advantage in postponing the inevitable. If
she were not wanted in the Ship, her presence was desired in the
Punch-Bowl, if not by all the squatters there, at all events by
the one most concerned.

She felt oppression in the house in which she had been at home
from infancy, and was even conscious that her adopted mother was
impatient to be rid of her. Mehetabel was proud, too proud to
withdraw from her engagement, to acknowledge that she had rushed
into it without consideration, and had accepted a man whom she
did not love. Too proud, in fine, to continue one day longer
than need be, eating the bread of charity.

Seamstresses were summoned, and every preparation made that
Mehetabel should have abundance of clothing when she left the Ship.