contented and peaceful again. I do not think that Phillis ever
perceived these little shadows; in the first place, she had such
complete reverence for her parents that she listened to them both
as if they had been St Peter and St Paul; and besides, she was
always too much engrossed with any matter in hand to think about
other people's manners and looks.

This night I could see, though she did not, how much she was
winning on my father. She asked a few questions which showed that
she had followed his explanations up to that point; possibly,
too, her unusual beauty might have something to do with his
favourable impression of her; but he made no scruple of
expressing his admiration of her to her father and mother in her
absence from the room; and from that evening I date a project of
his which came out to me a day or two afterwards, as we sate in
my little three-cornered room in Eltham. 'Paul,' he began, 'I
never thought to be a rich man; but I think it's coming upon me.
Some folk are making a deal of my new machine (calling it by its
technical name), and Ellison, of the Borough Green Works, has
gone so far as to ask me to be his partner.'

'Mr Ellison the Justice!--who lives in King Street? why, he
drives his carriage!' said I, doubting, yet exultant.

'Ay, lad, John Ellison. But that's no sign that I shall drive my
carriage. Though I should like to save thy mother walking, for
she's not so young as she was. But that's a long way off; anyhow.
I reckon I should start with a third profit. It might be seven
hundred, or it might be more. I should like to have the power to
work out some fancies o' mine. I care for that much more than for