his expressed as much as half-a-dozen sympathetic sentences of other
people.

"And how have you been, John? How do you like the tan-yard? Tell me
frankly."

He pulled a wry face, though comical withal, and said, cheerily,
"Everybody must like what brings them their daily bread. It's a
grand thing for me not to have been hungry for nearly thirty days."

"Poor John!" I put my hand on his wrist--his strong, brawny wrist.
Perhaps the contrast involuntarily struck us both with the truth--
good for both to learn--that Heaven's ways are not so unequal as we
sometimes fancy they seem.

"I have so often wanted to see you, John. Couldn't you come in now?"

He shook his head, and pointed to the cart. That minute, through the
open hall-door, I perceived Jael sauntering leisurely home from
market.

Now, if I was a coward, it was not for myself this time. The
avalanche of ill-words I knew must fall--but it should not fall on
him, if I could help it.

"Jump up on your cart, John. Let me see how well you can drive.
There--good-bye, for the present. Are you going to the tan-yard?"

"Yes--for the rest of the day." And he made a face as if he did not
quite revel in that delightful prospect. No wonder!