"Granted," answered Mr. Veale. "I did ought to be gone; but I say that every winter, and yet find myself up for one more season come summer again. I'm better this year than what I was last." "You look very well indeed, Mr. Veale," declared Margery. "The point of the wedge is in," confessed Frederick humorously. "Death have got it among my bones, and will hammer it home in God's good time; but my vitals is all working very suent yet, and if I sleep a lot, I'm wonderful between whiles." They entered a rough, unclean kitchen cumbered with trappers' tools. Jacob was not at ease and regretted that they had come. He cut short Benny in some simple gallantries and having drunk a cup of tea, declared that they must push forward. But Mr. Veale protested. "Bide a bit," he said, "and smoke your pipe. Us don't have visitors very oft I warn 'e." "I do trust you be going to ask us to the wedding, Miss," ventured Benny, who could not take his eyes off Margery's face. "I'd like for you to come," she answered. "I hope there will be a brave rally of neighbours I'm sure." "You'll be married from the post-office, of course," assumed Benny's father. "Trust Mr. and Mrs. Huxam to do it in good order. But be she willing to go to Church, or can the Chosen Few hold lawful marriage?" "It's going to be in Church, because Mr. Bullstone's Church of England," explained Margery. "And when do it happen, Miss?" asked Benny. "Next November." Jacob gave each man a fill from his pouch and the talk ran for a time on dogs; then he rose to depart. "Well, may your love adventures all turn out well and fine," said Mr. Veale, "and the Lord remember you and be good to the pair of you." Benny shyly took a sprig of white heath from a jam jar, where it stood in water. "Found it yesterday. Please accept of it, Miss." She thanked him and guessed he had intended to present it on the following day, when it was probable they would have met at Shipley Bridge--she with her puppies, he with a cart of rabbits on his way to Brent. But before Huntingdon Warren House was lost on their homeward way, Jacob asked her to drop the flower. "I don't like that sort of nonsense," he said. "The young man made a hole in his manners offering it, in my opinion. I'll forgive him this time, because he used to be a sailor and they don't know better." Margery instantly flung away the blossoms. "A mannerless oaf," added Jacob, "else he'd have known wiser than to stare at you as though you were a show. I'll ask you not to take note of him if you meet him again without me." Margery wondered and her heart beat a little quicker. "Isn't he a good sort of man?" she asked. "For all I know; but the woman that's going to marry me needn't trouble whether any other man's good or not." "That's true," she said, smiling to herself. "I never thought about how good you were when I began to love you--only how wonderful and precious. Love don't take much account of goodness or badness I reckon."