"Look here, Susanna," said Simon, "you'll have made a pocket in
them gownds, you mind."

"Yes, Simon, of course."

"Becos I means to put a little purse in for Matabel when she
goes from us--somethin' to be her own. I won't have the little
wench think we han't provided for her."

"How much?" asked Mrs. Verstage, jealously.

"That I'm just about considerin'," answered the old man cautiously.

"Don't you do nothin' reckless and unraysonable, Simon. What will
she want wi' money? Hasn't she got the Broom-Squire to pay for
all and everything?"

During the three weeks that intervened between the precipitate
and ill-considered engagement and the marriage, Mehetabel hardly
came to her senses. Sometimes when occupied with her work in the
house a qualm of horror came over her and curdled the blood in her
heart; then with a cold sweat suffusing her brow, and with pale
lips, she sank on a stool, held her head between her palms, and
fought with the thoughts that rose like spectres, and with the
despair that rolled in on her soul like a dark and icy tide. The
words spoken by the hostess had made it impossible for her to
retrace her steps. She could not understand what had come over
Mrs. Verstage to induce her to address her as she had. The after
conduct of the hostess was such as showed her that although wishing
her well she wished her away, and that though having a kindly
feeling towards her, she would not admit a renewal of former
relations. They might continue friends, but only on condition of
being friends at a distance. Mehetabel racked her brain to find in
what manner she had given offence to the old woman, and could find
none. She was thrust from the only bosom to which she had clung
from infancy, without a reason that she could discover. Meanwhile
she drew no nearer to Bideabout. He was delighted at his success,
and laid aside for a while his bitterness of speech. But she did
not admit him to nearer intimacy. His attempts at familiarity met
with a chilling reception; the girl had to exercise self-restraint
to prevent the repugnance with which she received his addresses
from becoming obvious to him and others.

Happily for her peace of mind, he was a good deal away, engaged in
getting his house into order. It needed clearing out, cleansing
and repairing. No money had been expended on dilapidations, very
little soap and water on purification, since his mother's death.

His sister, Mrs. Rocliffe, some years older than