difficulty in recognising John Halifax.

He had on new clothes--let me give the credit due to that wonderful
civiliser, the tailor--clothes neat, decent, and plain, such as any
'prentice lad might wear. They fitted well his figure, which had
increased both in height, compactness, and grace. Round his neck was
a coarse but white shirt frill; and over it fell, carefully arranged,
the bright curls of his bonny hair. Easily might Jael or any one
else have "mistaken" him, as she cuttingly said, for a young
gentleman.

She looked very indignant, though, when she found out the aforesaid
"mistake."

"What may be thy business here?" she said, roughly.

"Abel Fletcher sent me on a message."

"Out with it then--don't be stopping with Phineas here. Thee bean't
company for him, and his father don't choose it."

"Jael!" I cried, indignantly. John never spoke, but his cheek burnt
furiously.

I took his hand, and told him how glad I was to see him--but, for a
minute, I doubt if he heard me.

"Abel Fletcher sent me here," he repeated, in a well-controlled
voice, "that I might go out with Phineas; if HE objects to my
company, it's easy to say so."