armly; and Esau shouted--

"Hear, hear!"

Two days passed, then a third, and we had been out, and, to please
Esau's mother, tried in several places to get engagements. But we soon
found that it was hopeless, and after tramping about for hours went back
to the cottage.

"Such waste of time, and such a lot of trouble," grumbled Esau. "Why,
we might have done a lot of good work hunting, or shooting, or
gardening, out in Merriky yonder."

But Mrs Dean only shook her head, and told us to try again; and we
tried.

I think it was on the fourth evening that we were sitting in the little
kitchen, tired, discontented, and miserable, with Mrs Dean stitching
away more quickly than ever, when we all started, for there was a double
knock at the door, "Hullo!" cried Esau.

"Hush! my dear," said his mother, mysteriously; "I know. It's either
Mr Dempster to beg you to go back, or news about a new place."

She smoothed her apron and went to the door, picking off threads and
ravelings from her dress so as to look neat, though that she always
looked; and the next moment I ran to the door too, for I heard a
familiar voice, and to my surprise found both Mr and Mrs John.

"Ah, my dear boy," he cried eagerly, "we were getting uneasy about you,
and thought you must be ill. My wife could not rest till we came."

I led them into the little parlour, and placed chairs; while Mrs Dean,
after a humble courtesy, went away into the kitchen.

"Is that your landlady?" continued Mrs John, as she glanced quickly
round; and, before I could answer, "How beautifully neat and clean."

"Yes, beautifully," assented Mr John, hurriedly. "Have you heard of an
engagement, Mayne?"

"No, sir," I said sadly.

"Then you have not tried?"

"Indeed, sir, both Esau and I have tried very hard, as his mother is so
averse to his going abroad."

"Then you have given up all thought of going abroad, my dear boy?"

I shook my head.

"But you should, Mayne," said Mrs John, in rather a low voice. "We are
forced to go for my health's sake, but you are young and strong, and
with energy you ought to succeed here."

"I should like to do what you think right, ma'am," I said sadly.

"And we both think it right, my boy," said Mr John. "We should dearly
like to have you with us; but it would be unjust to you to encourage you
to take a step which you might afterwards bitterly repent, and we should
feel ourselves to blame."

I looked at Mrs John, and she took