might live a century in the same parish, and not one chance for a poor
wretch to make acquaintance."

Jacintha admitted this, and said gentlefolks were to be pitied. "Why, if
it was the likes of me, you and I should have made friends long before
now."

Jacintha herself was puzzled what to do; she would have told Rose if she
had felt sure it would be well received; but she could not find out that
the young lady had even noticed the existence of Edouard. But her brain
worked, and lay in wait for an opportunity.

One came sooner than she expected. One morning at about six o'clock, as
she came home from milking the cow, she caught sight of young Riviere
trying to open the iron gate. "What is up now?" thought she; suddenly
the truth flashed upon her, clear as day. She put her pail down and
stole upon him. "You want to leave us another purse," said she. He
colored all over and panted.

"How did you know? how could you know? you won't betray me? you won't be
so cruel? you promised."

"Me betray you," said Jacintha; "why, I'll help you; and then they will
be able to buy mourning, you know, and then they will come out, and give
you a chance. You can't open that gate, for it's locked. But you come
round to the lane, and I'll get you the key; it is hanging up in the
kitchen."

The key was in her pocket. But the sly jade wanted him away from that
gate; it commanded a view of the Pleasaunce. He was no sooner safe in