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poor man's concert； or go to ‘the Weaver's Union；' and what he calls
‘threep them' for two or three hours that labor is ruining capital； and
killing the goose that lays golden eggs for them。 Oh； they are a wonderful
race； Ruth！〃
〃I really can't discuss them now； Ethel。〃
〃Don't you want to know what Tyrrel said to me this afternoon？〃
〃My dear； I know。 Lovers have said such things before； and lovers will
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say them evermore。 You shall tell me in the morning。 I thought he looked
distrait and bored with our company。〃
Indeed； Tyrrel was so remarkably quiet that John Thomas also noticed
his mood； and as they sat smoking in Tyrrel's room； he resolved to find out
the reason； and with his usual directness asked：
〃What do you think of Ethel Rawdon； Tyrrel；〃
〃I think she is the most beautiful woman I ever saw。 She has also the
most sincere nature； and her high spirit is sweetly tempered by her
affectionate heart。〃
〃I am glad you know so much about her。 Look here； Cousin Tyrrel； I
fancied to…night you were a bit jealous of me。 It is easy to see you are in
love； and I've no doubt you were thinking of the days when you would be
thousands of miles away； and I should have the ground clear and so on；
eh？〃
〃Suppose I was； cousin； what then？〃
〃You would be worrying for nothing。 I don't want to marry Ethel
Rawdon。 If I did； you would have to be on the ground all the time； and
then I should best you； but I picked out my wife two years ago； and if we
are both alive and well； we are going to be married next Christmas。〃
〃I am delighted。 I〃
〃I thought you would be。〃
〃Who is the young lady？〃
〃Miss Lucy Watson。 Her father is the Independent minister。 He is a
gentleman； though his salary is less than we give our overseer。 And he is a
great scholar。 So is Lucy。 She finished her course at college this summer；
and with high honors。 Bless you； Tyrrel； she knows far more than I do
about everything but warps and looms and such like。 I admire a clever
woman； and I'm proud of Lucy。〃
〃Where is she now？〃
〃Well； she was a bit done up with so much study； and so she went to
Scarborough for a few weeks。 She has an aunt there。 The sea breezes and
salt water soon made her fit for anything。 She may be home very soon
now。 Then； Tyrrel； you'll see a beautyface like a rose； hair brown as a nut；
eyes that make your heart go galloping； the most enticing mouth； the
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prettiest figure； and she loves me with all her heart。 When she says ‘John
Thomas； dear one；' I tremble with pleasure； and when she lets me kiss her
sweet mouth； I really don't know where I am。 What would you say if a girl
whispered； ‘I love you； and nobody but you；' and gave you a kiss that was
likelike wine and roses？ Now what would you say？〃
〃I know as little as you do what I would say。 It's a situation to make a
man coin new words。 I suppose your family are pleased。〃
〃Well； I never thought about my family till I had Lucy's word。 Then I
told mother。 She knew Lucy all through。 Mother has a great respect for
Independents； and though father sulked a bit at first； mother had it out with
him one night； and when mother has father quiet in their room father
comes to see things just as she wants him。 I suppose that's the way with
wives。 Lucy will be just like that。 She's got a sharp little temper； too。 She'll
let me have a bit of it； no doubt； now and then。〃
〃Will you like that？〃
〃I wouldn't care a farthing for a wife without a bit of temper。 There
would be no fun in living with a woman of that kind。 My father would
droop and pine if mother didn't spur him on now and then。 And he likes it。
Don't I know？ I've seen mother snappy and awkward with him all
breakfast time； tossing her head； and rattling the china； and declaring she
was worn out with men that let all the good bargains pass them； perhaps
making fun of us because we couldn't manage to get along without strikes。
She had no strikes with her hands； she'd like to see her women stand up
and talk to her about shorter hours； and so on； and father would look at me
sly…like； and as we walked to the mill together he'd laugh contentedly and
say； ‘Your mother was quite refreshing this morning； John Thomas。 She
has keyed me up to a right pitch。 When Jonathan Arkroyd comes about
that wool he sold us I'll be all ready for him。' So you see I'm not against a
sharp temper。 I like women as Tennyson says English girls are； ‘roses set
round with little wilful thorns；' eh？〃
Unusual as this conversation was； its general tone was assumed by
Ethel in her confidential talk with Ruth the following day。 Of course； Ruth
was not at all surprised at the news Ethel brought her； for though the
lovers had been individually sure they had betrayed their secret to no one；
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it had really been an open one to Ruth since the hour of their meeting。 She
was sincerely ardent in her praises of Tyrrel Rawdon； butand there is
always a butshe wondered if Ethel had 〃noticed what a quick temper he
had。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 answered Ethel； 〃I should not like him not to have a quick
temper。 I expect my husband to stand up at a moment's notice for either
mine or his own rights or opinions。〃
And in the afternoon when all preliminaries had been settled and
approved； Judge Rawdon expressed himself in the same manner to Ruth。
〃Yes；〃 he said； in reply to her timid suggestion of temper； 〃you can strike
fire anywhere with him if you try it； but he has it under control。 Besides；
Ethel is just as quick to flame up。 It will be Rawdon against Rawdon； and
Ethel's weapons are of finer； keener steel than Tyrrel's。 Ethel will hold her
own。 It is best so。〃
〃How did the Squire feel about such a marriage？〃
〃He was quite overcome with delight。 Nothing was said to Tyrrel about
Ethel having bought the reversion of Rawdon Manor； for things have been
harder to get into proper shape than I thought they would be； and it may be
another month before all is finally settled； but the Squire has