Her mother inspected him for a moment, and then half closed her eyes. "My daughter tells me that you carry on the occupation of a hairdresser," she said. "Quite correct, madam," said Leander; "I do." "Ah! well," she said, with an unconcealed sigh, "I could have wished to look higher than hairdressing for my Matilda; but there are opportunities of doing good even as a hairdresser. I trust you are sensible of that." "I try to do as little 'arm as I can," he said feebly. "If you do not do good, you must do harm," she said uncompromisingly. "You have it in your means to be an awakening influence. No one knows the power that a single serious hairdresser might effect with worldly customers. Have you never thought of that?" "Well, I can't say I have exactly," he said; "and I don't see how." "There are cheap and appropriate illuminated texts," she said, "to be had at so much a dozen; you could hang them on your walls. There are tracts you procure by the hundred; you could put them in the lining of hats as you hang them up; you could wrap them round your--your bottles and pomatum-pots. You could drop a word in season in your customer's ear as you bent over him. And you tell me you don't see how; you _will_ not see, I fear, Mr. Tweddle." "I'm afraid, mum," he replied, "my customers would consider I was taking liberties." "And what of that, so long as you save them?" "Well, you see, I shouldn't--I should _lose_ 'em! And it's not done in our profession; and, to tell you the honest truth, I'm not given that way myself--not to the extent of tracks and suchlike, that is." Matilda's mother groaned; it was hard to find a son-in-law with whom she had nothing in common, and who was a hairdresser into the bargain. "Well, well," she said, "we must expect crosses in this life; though for my own daughter to lay this one upon me is--is----But I will not repine." "I'm sorry you regard me in the light of a cross," said Leander; "but, whether I'm a cross or a naught, I'm a respectable man, and I love your daughter, mum, and I'm in a position to maintain her." Leander hated to have to appear under false pretences, of which he had had more than enough of late. He was glad now to speak out plainly, particularly as he had no reason to fear this old woman. "Hush, Leander! Mamma didn't mean to be unkind; did you, mamma?" said Matilda. "I said what I felt," she said. "We will not discuss it further. If, in time, I see reason for bestowing my blessing upon a choice which at present----But no matter. If I see reason in time, I will not withhold it. I can hardly be expected to approve at present." "You shall take your own time, mum; _I_ won't hurry you," said Leander. "Tillie is blessing enough for me--not but what I shall be glad to be on a pleasant footing with you, I'm sure, if you can bring yourself to it."