The Gold that Glitters | Page 4

pleased her vanity much better.
"You're really going to-morrow, Jenny?"
"Of course I am," said Jenny.
"You'll forget me, like as not," said Tom, earnestly hoping to be contradicted.
"Of course I shall," replied Jenny flippantly.
"I wish you wouldn't, Jenny," said Tom, with a meek humility that should have disarmed Jenny's resentment, but only increased it. Like many other foolish people, Jenny was apt to mistake pert speeches for cleverness, and gentleness for want of manly spirit. "I wish you wouldn't, Jenny. There isn't a soul as thinks as much of you as I do, not in all the country-side. Nor there isn't one as 'll miss you like me."
"I just wish you'd take up with somebody else, and give over plaguing me," said Jenny mercilessly. "There's Ruth Merston, and Dolly Campion, and Abigail--"
"I don't want ne'er a one on 'em," answered Tom, in a rather hurt tone. "I've never thought, not a minute, o' nobody but you, Jenny, not since we was a little lad and lass together. I've always loved you, Jenny. Haven't you ne'er a kind word for me afore we part? May be a long day ere we shall meet again."
"I'm sure I hope it will," said Jenny, half vexed at Tom's pertinacity, and half amusing herself, for she thought it good fun to tease him.
"Don't you care the least bit for me, Jenny, dear?"
"No, I don't. Why should I?"
"But you used, Jenny, once. Didn't you, now? That day I brought you them blue ribbons you liked so well, you said--don't you mind what you said, dear heart?"
"I said a deal o' nonsense, I shouldn't wonder. Don't be a goose, Tom! You can't think to bind a girl to what she says when you give her blue ribbons."
"I'd be bound to what I said, ribbons or no ribbons," said Tom firmly. "But I see how it is--it's that scented idiot, Featherstone, has come betwixt you and me. O Jenny, my dear love, don't you listen to him! He'll not be bound to a word he says the minute it's not comfortable to keep it. He'll just win your heart, Jenny, and then throw you o' one side like a withered flower, as soon as ever he sees a fresh one as suits him better. My dear maid--"
"I'm sure I'm mighty obliged to you, Mr Fenton!" said Jenny, really angry now. "It's right handsome of you to liken me to a withered flower. Mr Featherstone's a gentleman in a many of his ways, and that's more nor you are, and I wish you good evening."
"Jenny, my dear, don't 'ee, now--"
But Jenny was gone.
Tom turned sorrowfully away. Before he had taken two steps, he was arrested by a kindly voice.
"You made a mistake, there, Tom," it said. "But don't you lose heart; it isn't too bad to be got over."
Tom stopped at once, and went back to the hedge, whence that kindly voice had spoken.
"Is that you, Kate?" he said.
"Ay," answered the voice of Jenny's sister. Kate was not a very wise girl, but she was less flighty and foolish than Jenny; and she had a kind heart, which made her always wish to help anyone in trouble. "Tom, don't be in a taking; but you've made a mistake, as I said. You know not how to handle such a maid as Jenny."
"What should I have said, Kate? I'm fair beat out of heart, and you'll make me out of charity with myself if you tell me 'tis my own fault."
"Oh, not so ill as that, Tom! But next time she bids you go and take up with somebody else, just tell her you mean to do so, and `there are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.' That's the way to tackle the likes of her; not to look struck into the dumps, and fetch sighs like a windmill."
"But I don't mean it, Kate," said Tom, looking puzzled.
"Oh, be not so peevish, Tom! Can't you say so?"
"No," answered Tom, with sudden gravity; "I can't, truly. I've alway looked for Jenny to be my wife one day, ever since I was as high as those palings; but I'll not win her by untruth. There'd be no blessing from the Lord on that sort of work. I can't, Kate Lavender."
"Well, I never did hear the like!" exclaimed Kate. "You can't think so much of Jenny as I reckoned you did, if you stick at nought in that way."
"I think more of Jenny than of anyone else in the world, Kate, and you know it," said Tom, with a dignity which Kate could not help feeling. "But I think more yet of Him that's above the world. No, no! If ever I win Jenny--and God grant I may I--I'll win her righteously, not lyingly. I thank you for your