the room. Both my father and I felt rather abashed; it was such
an odd subject for us to be talking about; but my father, like a
straightforward simple man as he was, spoke out the truth.

'I've been telling Paul of Ellison's offer, and saying how good
an opening it made for him--'

'I wish I'd as good,' said Mr Holdsworth. 'But has the business a
"pretty mouth"?

'You're always so full of your joking, Mr Holdsworth,' said my
father. 'I was going to say that if he and his cousin Phillis
Holman liked to make it up between them, I would put no spoke in
the wheel.'

'Phillis Holman!' said Mr Holdsworth. 'Is she the daughter of the
minister-farmer out at Heathbridge? Have I been helping on the
course of true love by letting you go there so often? I knew
nothing of it.'

'There is nothing to know,' said I, more annoyed than I chose to
show. 'There is no more true love in the case than may be between
the first brother and sister you may choose to meet. I have been
telling father she would never think of me; she's a great deal
taller and cleverer; and I'd rather be taller and more learned
than my wife when I have one.'

'And it is she, then, that has the pretty mouth your father spoke
about? I should think that would be an antidote to the cleverness
and learning. But I ought to apologize for breaking in upon your