Luke hesitated for a few moments, and then tried to clear his voice, but failed, and spoke huskily as he rose from his seat. "Mr Portlock," he said, "you have known me from a boy." "And always liked thee, my lad, and made thee welcome," still watching him keenly. "Always, Mr Portlock, and you will agree that it is not strange that now I am grown a man I should love my little playmate Sage, whom I've known ever since the day you called at our house with her and Rue--poor little orphans, looking so pretty and helpless as they sat in black in your gig." "Ay! ay! that was a sad time, Luke Ross," said the Churchwarden, thoughtfully. "Poor little bairns! mother and father in one sad week, Luke. Hah! well, I've never had any of my own, and I never think of 'em now but as if they had been born to me." "No, sir, I know that," said Luke, smiling. "And you want me to say thou mayst have Sage for thy wife. That's the plain English of it, lad, eh?" "Yes, sir--yes, sir," cried Luke, excitedly; but delighted to have his task cut short. "Ha!" said the Churchwarden, thoughtfully. "I expected as much. I said to myself that was what you would ask me when you came back." "And you consent, sir?" cried Luke, joyously. There was a moment's silence, while the Churchwarden crossed a sturdy, well-shaped leg over the other, Luke gazing the while upon his lips, until he spoke, and then sinking back, as if smitten, into his chair. "No, my lad, I do not give my consent. I like thee, Luke, almost as well as if thou wast my own son, and I believe you'd make Sage a good husband; but, to be plain with you, I don't like this schoolmastering and mistress work." "You don't like it, sir!" "No, my lad. It was against my wish that Sage took to it. I would rather have seen her making the bread-and-butter at home; and there was no need for her to have gone into the world; and as you know, it was then I set my face against your going in for it as well." "Indeed, sir!" "Yes, my lad. You'd a deal better have been content to take up with your father's honest old business of tanning. There's a good trade to be done." "Yes, sir, but I felt myself so unsuited for the trade, and I liked books." "And didn't care about dirtying thy hands, Luke. No, my lad, I think it was a mistake." "A mistake, sir?" "Yes, and I'll show you. Now, look here, my boy," continued the Churchwarden, pointing with the waxy end of his pipe. "No lad of spirit thinks of taking help from his father, after his first start in the world." "Of course not, sir." "And a lad of spirit don't go hanging on to his wife's people." "No, sir." "Then, look here, my boy. What is your salary to be, if you get Lawford School; I say, _if_ you get it?" "Seventy pounds per annum, sir, with a house, and an addition for my certificate, if I have been fortunate enough to win one."