Lucy, though of slender build. There was a marked contrast between his dark, thoughtful features, and the fair, hopeful, and merry face of Lucy. She wore a straw hat, and a shawl hung carelessly over one shoulder. The conversation between her and Jacob was very limited, so much so that Dorothy said they seemed afraid of each other, and wished Spen had come all the way with them, whereupon Jacob turned his head and tried to be facetious upon Dorothy's weakness for cleaning and talking. By-and-by he felt more at home, and at length he told Lucy how he had lain in the sun listening to the factory music, and how he had often wished he had been compelled to work in the factory; for it seemed to him that there was such a glory in the rattling wheels, such a freedom about the place, such a pleasure in watching the silk grow into yards and yards of fleecy cloth.

“Ah, you are mistaken, Mr. Martyn," said Lucy; "you might like the factory on cold winter afternoons, when the snow is on the ground; but in the early morning, in the dark, before the stars are out!"

Lucy shrugged her pretty shoulders and looked at Jacob.

"And then," she continued, "in the summer, when the birds are singing, the heat and noise, the stifling, dreadful heat!—not that I was compelled to stay in it always, but I saw those who were." “And yet you sang as if you were very happy," said Jacob. “Larks sing in cages, but I don't think they are happy.”

"You often made me happy," said Jacob; "but if I had thought you were not happy I should have been very miserable."

"I was not unhappy," said Lucy; "I did almost what I pleased; the proprietor of the factory was very kind; he is a sort of relation of ours."

"And have you left Middleton for good?" Jacob asked.

"I think so," said Lucy.

"You were glad to come away?"

"Yes, I think so; but sometimes I feel as if I were sorry."

"How strange that you should have left so soon after I left, and that I should come here!"

"Very," said Lucy.

Then Jacob looked back into the wood, and Dorothy was nowhere to be seen. The good-natured creature, muttering to herself that "two is company and three none," had quietly slipped home. Jacob made a great effort to use his opportunity bravely.

"It seems as if it had happened purposely," said Jacob. "Do you think so?" said Lucy. "Why?"

"Because I feel as if I had known you ever since I was a little boy."

"You are not so bashful as you were an hour or two ago," said Lucy, smiling.

"You thought me very silly, I know," said Jacob; "and do so now, I dare say."

"I do not, I assure you," said Lucy, gathering her shawl round her, as they stepped forth into the open meadows.

"Should you be dreadfully offended if I were to call you Lucy?” said Jacob, taking her hand.

Lucy withdrew her hand.

"I knew you would; I am very sorry I asked you; pray forgive me if I have offended you," said Jacob.

"I am not offended," Lucy replied; "here is Cousin Dorothy coming to meet us.":

It was twilight when they returned to the cottage among the trees. They chatted together until it was nearly dark. Mrs. Cantrill sat in her arm-chair near the fire. Dorothy occupied a seat near the open door, and Jacob sat near Lucy against the window. The firelight flickered on the white-washed walls. There was a wholesome smell of tar from the recently blackened fire-grate, which made the place seem very homely. A few bright pans hung over a white dresser, and an old-fashioned clock, in an oak case, ticked solemnly and peacefully in a corner behind Mrs. Cantrill. Outside the house the trees looked dim and shadowy. The cry of the landrail came in at the open doorway, almost keeping time with the clock. The ivy tapped at the diamond-shaped window-panes. A cat purred on the hearth. You could hear the drowsy hum of the beetle, and a robin sat singing on the garden wall.

Lucy knew that Jacob loved her. When she went into her little room that night, she looked into her glass with a smile of satisfaction, and gathered her hair up and tried the effect of wearing it in a band. Then she let it fall in a cluster down her back, brushed it off her face entirely, finally fastening it up with a comb; and, however she dressed those golden tresses, she looked like one of whom the poet could not choose but feel that she had reason to fear her own exceeding beauty.

Heaven shield thee for thine utter loveliness.

CHAPTER XII.

IN WHICH SUNDRY STRAY THREADS OF THE STORY ARE GATHERED UP, AND SOME COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE.

WHEN Jacob returned to Cartown, he found a letter and a newspaper for him, which, by the way, was not an extraordinary circumstance, seeing that he had received many communications from his father containing words of parental kindness and solicitude, besides a Middleton Star every week. This morning both letter and newspaper were more noteworthy than usual. The letter informed Jacob that his father would call for him that day, on his way to Clumberside, which was the seat of Mr. Bonsall, M.P., who had been returned to the Commons House of Parliament for the borough of Middleton, through the instrumentality of Mr. Martyn, of the Star. In the newspaper there were several items of local news, interesting both to Jacob and to the readers of this history. Perhaps a brief description of the journal itself may not be out of place here.

It was a large folio paper, the front page chiefly occupied with advertisements. Several auctioneers monopolised the first two columns, with announcements of forthcoming sales of all manner of extraordinary things, from kitchen chairs to magnificently carved mahogany sideboards, from cottages to family mansions, and from collections of poultry to herds of fat stock. There was a slight error, called by printers "a literal," in the description of the poultry, "twenty-five turkeys" being printed "twenty-five turnkeys;" but this was a mistake that might occur in the best regulated printingoffices. In the third column several grocers, a couple of tailors, and seven or eight drapers struggled with each other for supremacy, and according to their announcements, teas, sugars, dress-coats, silks, ribbons, bonnets, shawls, and cloaks, at Middleton-in-the-Water, had reached the minimum of cheapness, combined with the very maximum of quality. In the fourth column a brace of enterprising druggists announced themselves as the sole agents for certain wonderful medicines; and, beneath these, Dr. Horatio Johnson, beginning with the quotation, "Throw physic to the dogs," and ending with "Moniti meliora sequamur,” informed the afflicted of all ages that he visited certain towns on certain days, and that the Oriental remedy had proved its efficacy by the most convincing and extraordinary tests. In the fifth column several persons who wanted situations elbowed sundry others who had situations vacant; while half a dozen announcements headed "To be Sold" made desperate efforts to eclipse in attractiveness an equal number of others under

the title of "To be Let ;" and the page finished with a collection of miscellaneous intelligence. In the second page commenced the leading articles, in the preparation of which it was evident, even to Jacob, that Mr. Martyn had procured some literary assistance. The first article was a severe criticism of the Middleton Guardian, from which it appeared that the organ of the Red party had for several years devoted its special attention to a consideration of the errors of the British currency system, the heinous crime committed by those persons who clipped and mutilated the coin of the realm, and the condition of the savage tribes of Africa and America. The next article-a description of the mineral wealth of the country surrounding Middleton-concluded by welcoming the advent of a new company started to get lead at a short distance from the town; and the last was one, the brevity of which induces me to extract it as an example of the independent character of the journal and the susceptibility of the Middleton Corporation :—

"FEARFUL CALAMITY: THE 'Star' in Danger.--We can hardly find words to describe the calamity which has befallen us. The remarks we made last week respecting the careless and disgraceful management-or rather mismanagement-of the corporation property, and the culpable neglect of our corporate body in respect thereof, has brought down upon us the thundering anathemas of the Council. But this is not the worst. Our very existence is threatened. The fiat that is to annihilate us has gone forth. The writing is on the wall. Twelve Town Councillors have stopped our paper! Twelve representatives of the burgesses of the free town of Middleton have given us notice that we are no longer to count them as subscribers to this journal! Twelve fourpennies per week are banished from our exchequer !! If we can survive this expression of the opinion of Councildom for another week, our circulation may possibly be less next Saturday by five than it is at the present issue!!! Oppressed by this dreadful weight, this shadow of the Cyclops, this co-operated condemnation, we fear the Star will cease to shine and that we must hide our diminished head for ever. An aggregate of four shillings per week from twelve Town Councillors! It is a deadly blow, truly. But (joking apart) we may inform our readers, in confidence, that the Star will be printed as usual next week notwithstanding, and that the profits of the extra sale, which will be created by the conspiracy we now chronicle, will be given to a fund which the editor suggests should be raised to pay the expenses of a public examination of the corporation accounts by a public accountant."

Following the leaders came the local news, beginning with short paragraphs, and ending with very long ones. Among those of medium size the following attracted Jacob's attention :

"THE NEW MAYOR.—It is now generally understood that Ephraim

Magar, Esq., will be chosen Chief Magistrate of Middleton at the next election. Though we are opposed to Mr. Magar on political grounds, we cannot withhold an expression of our approval of this election. So far as Mr. Magar's connection with the Council is concerned he is comparatively only a young member; but he has exhibited a desire to promote the welfare of the town, and he is among those of our enlightened townsmen who desire to reform altogether the present management of the corporate property. It is not on this account, however, that Mr. Magar is to be elected Mayor. But more in consideration of the spirited and liberal way in which he has fulfilled his duties as a Councillor, heading munificently every subscription raised for benevolent purposes, and showing, in a variety of ways, that having the means to be benevolent he has also the will. Mr. Magar is one of those men who is the founder of his own fortune, and as such it is highly creditable to his colleagues in office that they should select him for the high and honourable position of Chief Magistrate. We hear that Mr. Magar is a large shareholder in the new lead mining undertaking, that he is also a sleeping partner in several local works, and that he intends retiring from the business with which he has so many years been connected, and enjoying, for the remainder of his life, that repose which he has so well earned." Another paragraph ran as follows:-

"GRATIFYING TESTIMONIAL.-We are glad to announce that Thomas Titsy, who our readers will remember was imprisoned on a charge of having intimidated certain voters during the last election for Middleton, has been presented with a purse of fifty sovereigns by several gentlemen who were instrumental in obtaining his release, as an expression of their sympathy, and in token of their confidence in his honesty and integrity. Mr. Thomas Titsy, who has served his apprenticeship in this office, desires us to express his sense of the kindness and sympathy exhibited towards him; and we may add our own testimonial to the substantial one he has received, with regard to his faithfulness and good conduct. The subscription was commenced shortly after Thomas Titsy's release: its presentation has been delayed, that it might in no way smack of anything like political partisanship. The testimonial has been presented on purely philanthropic grounds."

In the next page there was an account of an interesting discussion, at a meeting of the Commissioners of Lighting and Paving, respecting the width of one of the public streets, the respective merits of closed and open drains, as opposed to no drains at all, and the price of gas, which one speaker contended was higher than the cost of oil.

"He for one would not say anything against the illuminating powers of gas; but he would say this, that when the good old oil lamps were in use, there was much less money to pay for them, and much less fuss about the quality of the light and the number of burning hours. He was one of the old school, and although he liked