"Dear, dear, dear, think o' that," said the woman fretfully. "The old doctor always had some, and a drop o' sperrits, too. Ah, it's a hard thing to be old and poor and in bad health, carrying your grey hairs in sorrow to the grave; and all about you rich and well and happy, rolling in money, and marrying and giving in marriage and wearing their wedding garments, one and all. You've heard about the doings up at the Manor House?" "Yes, yes, something about them, Mrs Bray; but I'll tell my brother, and he will, I know, come and see you." "Yes, you tell him; not as I believe in him much, but poor people must take what they can get--He's come back, you know?" "My brother? No; he would have come straight in here." "Your brother? Tchah, no!" cried the woman, forgetting her "chronics" in the interest she felt in the fresh subject. "You're always thinking about your brother, and if's time you began to think of a husband. I meant him at the Manor--young Claud Wilton. He's come back." "Come back?" cried Jenny excitedly. "Yes; but I hear he arn't brought his young missus with him. Nice goings on, running away, them two, to get married. But I arn't surprised; he fell out with the parson long enough ago about Sally Deal, down the village, and parson give it him well for not marrying her. Wouldn't be married here out o' spite, I suppose. Well, I must go. You're sure you haven't got a drop o' gin in the house?" "Quite sure," said Jenny quickly; "and I'll be sure and tell my brother to come." "Ay, do; and tell him I say it's a shame he lives so far out of the village. I feel sometimes that I shall die in one of the ditches before I get here, it's so far. There, don't hurry me so; I don't want to be took ill here. I know, doctors aren't above helping people out of the world when they get tired of them." "Gone!" cried Jenny at last, with a sigh of relief; and then, with the tears rising to her eyes, "Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do? If they meet--if he ever gets to know!" She hurried upstairs, put on her hat and jacket, and came down looking pale and excited, but without any very definite plans. One idea was foremost in her mind; but as she reached the door she caught sight of her brother coming with rapid strides from the direction opposite to that taken by the old woman who had just gone. "Too late!" she said, with a piteous sigh; and she ran upstairs hurriedly, and threw off her things. She had hardly re-arranged her hair when she heard her brother's voice calling her. "Yes, dear," she said, and she ran down, to find him looking ghastly. "Who was that went away from here?" he said huskily. She told him, but not of her promise to send him over. "I'll go to her at once," he said. "No, no, Pierce, dear; she is not ill. Pray stay at home; there is really no need." "Why should I stay at home?" he said, looking at her suspiciously.