That exemplary village functionary was pouring out her third _dish_ of tea when, with a wheezy sigh, she commenced a reply to her friend’s comment on the approaching marriage. “As sure as I sits here, Jane Thwaytes,” she said oratorically, “if John Beacham marries that Irish gurl he’ll come to trouble. There’s that about Miss Blake as speaks a vollum. It isn’t that she’s, so to speak, aither bold or forrard; I couldn’t say that of her--no, not if I was to be put upon my Bible oath; but what I _do_ say is, that she’s got a look with her eyes that I would have whipped _my_ daughter out of before she was twelve years old, or I would have known the reason why.” “It’s singular now, ain’t it,” suggested Mrs. Thwaytes, “that one can’t learn more about who she is, and where she comes from? A nussery governess too isn’t much to boast of neither, and I don’t wonder as the old lady is a bit put out. The Beachams have allers held their heads high, and John’s mother hasn’t been behindhand with ’em. She’s not the woman, I’m thinking, to like being mother-in-law to a gurl who may, for anything that’s known, be a gentleman’s love-child. And, pretty as she is--I must say that for her--and like a lady too, Miss Blake had to dress the children, and hem the pincloths, and all that sort of thing at Clay’s Farm.” “All that sort of thing! I should think so, and a precious deal more to that. Why from the first moment that Mrs. Clay was took in labour--and that’s been twice in the two years that Miss Blake’s been at the farm--the most of the head-work fell upon Honor. There was this to be thought of, and that to be done--the children to be kep from noise, and the master from being put out because the baking was spoiled. Everything, morning, noon, and night--and I used to think it was a bit too much for such a mere girl as she is--fell upon the nussery governess.” “And that’s true, I believe, or the Clays, one and all, wouldn’t make so much of her as they do; and the old lady ought to think of that, proud as she is, for she’ll be a rare help, will Honor, at the Paddocks. A good headpiece of her own, and not above making herself useful; and add to that that John’s getting on for forty, and is particular in his ways--so he is. He means honourable, does Mr. Beacham, and stands high with rich and poor, and what’s more, he can take his wife to as good a home as any in the country.”