He was moody and his expression had changed. Care had come into his face and its confidence had abated. He had always liked to talk, and possessed with his own wrongs, of late, began to weary other ears. To his few intimate friends he had already spoken unwisely and salved the wounds of pride by assuring them that the rupture was not permanent. He had even hinted that he was responsible for it--to give the woman he designed to wed a lesson. He had affected confidence in the future; and now this was not the least of his annoyances, that when the truth came in sight, certain people would laugh behind his back. Upon such a temper it was easy to see how any mention of another man in connection with Dinah must fall; and had Jane really known all that was tormenting her brother's mind, at the moment when it began to feel the truth, even she might have hesitated; but she did not. John considered their dreams of a shop without much sympathy and doubted their wisdom. "You're a woodman and only a woodman--bred to it," he declared. "What the mischief should you make messing about among shops and houses in a town? You know you'd hate it, just so much as I should myself, and you know well he would, if he don't, Jane." "You forget his feeling for me, Johnny," explained his sister. "It wouldn't be natural to him I grant; but there's me; and what's my good be Jerry's good when we'm married." "You ought to think of his good, too, however. I shouldn't hide this up. You'd do well to talk to mother before you do anything." "You don't think father will change about the five hundred pound?" asked Jane. "'Twas fear of that kept us quiet." "No; he won't change. I was to have had the same." "And so you will have," she said. "'Tis only a question of time." "You'll get one as feels for you, same as Jane feels for me, presently," ventured Jerry. "And Dinah Waycott will get hell," added Jane; "and I dare say it may happen to her afore so mighty long, for that matter." Jerry shrank, for Jane's brother fastened on this. "What d'you mean?" he asked, and she was glad he did. "Nothing, Johnny; only I've got eyes. I ban't one to think evil; but I can't help being pretty quick where you are concerned. You're next to Jerry, and I shan't be a happy woman till you're a happy man, and you know it." "What then, Jane?" "We met Lawrence Maynard walking down the road a bit ago." "And if you did?" She dared greatly. "I suppose you haven't ever heard his name along with hers?" "'Hers'? D'you mean Dinah's? No, by God--nor any other man's! If I did----Out with it. What are you saying, Jane?" To hear him swear made Jerry wonder, for John had never sworn in the past. The woodman, regarding him very anxiously, now perceived how his face and the tone of his voice had altered. That such phenomena were visible to Jerry's intelligence argued their magnitude.