"I trust her, and she knows it. I told her about you, and she wanted me to promise not to marry till I'm twenty-five." "By then, I suppose, she'll have become sick and tired of you," said Nellie, who was rapidly forming Highfield opinions about Mrs. Stanley. "She doesn't mind who I marry--" "How perfectly unselfish!" "So long as 'tis the right sort o' maid." "I hope you'll find her. Goodnight; I'm going now," said Nellie, standing beside the garden-gate of Windward House. Then she added rather faintly, "I'm sorry you ever came to Highfield." Sidney struck a match and, making a lantern of his hands, turned the light upon her face. "Oh, Nellie darling! There's a tear upon your cheek!" "Don't be rude and wicked," she murmured, searching for the gate handle, which she generally found quite easily. "The beautifullest tear from the loveliest eye in the world!" "What's wrong with the other eye?" she asked trying to laugh. "It's still more lovely. Nellie, you are--just Nellie, and that means everything. You shall trust me, and I'll make you love me, if I have to work a thousand times harder than I do on the farm." "Will you have nothing more to do with Mrs. Stanley?" "I can't do that." "You mean she won't give you up!" "She's the best and kindest lady in the world. But you come first, and that's where you'll be always." "I must be second too. It's no good, Sidney. I'm not going to be talked about and laughed at--no girl can stand it. Besides, Mrs. Drake has forbidden me to speak to you, and my poor mistress would go crazy if she knew what has happened. I have a good home, and I must think of my future. Leave me alone, please, and let me forget you. But I must give up the choir and sit at the bottom of the church, for I--I can't sing any more." "Is that you, Nellie?" called Kezia; and the faithful band of protectors and consolers appeared, putting the false Sidney to flight. George was so pleased when Nellie did not go out upon Sunday afternoon, that he presented her with a picture of his latest locomotive, very handsomely designed, but without cylinders. He began about this time to take an interest in his personal appearance, with the result that Mrs. Drake, who was not at all prejudiced in his favour, remarked to Kezia that Mr. George was undoubtedly the best looking man in the place, which, after all, was not much of a compliment. Kezia, who was a Drake in everything but surname, and contemplated assuming that to supply her own deficiency, agreed, and went on to mention Mr. George was regarded as the perfect pattern of an English gentleman by Highfield, where all geese were swans.