Billy Bender about whom Jenny Lincoln has gone almost mad."

"I think not," returned her cousin, "for Mrs. Lincoln would hardly
suffer her daughter to _mention_ a poor boy's name, much less to go
mad about him."

"But," answered Ida, "he worked on Mr. Lincoln's farm when Jenny was a
little girl; and now that she is older she talks of him nearly all the
time, and Rose says it would not surprise her if she should some day
run off with him."

"Possibly it is the same," returned George. "Any way, he is very
fine-looking, and a fine fellow too, besides being an excellent
scholar."

The next day, when Billy chanced to be alone, George approached him,
and after making some casual remarks about the books he had borrowed,
&c., he said, "Did you ever see Jenny Lincoln in Chicopee?"

"Oh, yes," answered Billy, brightening up, for Jenny had always been
and still was a great favorite with him; "Oh, yes, I know Jenny very
well. I worked for her father some years ago, and became greatly
interested in her."

"Indeed? Then you must know Henry Lincoln?"

"Yes, I know him," said Billy; while George continued, "And think but
little of him of course?"

On this subject Billy was noncommittal. He had no cause for liking