"
They had only just time to go through the ceremony of breaking a
tester between them before a shrill call of "Emlyn" resounded down
the garden. Mrs. Sloggett thought quite time enough had been wasted
over the young man, and summoned the girl back to her sewing.
Emlyn made a face of disgust, very comical and very joyous, but as
the good dame was actually coming in search of her no more could
pass.
Stead went away overflowing with happiness, and full of plans of
raising the means of bringing back this sunshine of his hearth.
Perhaps it was well that, though slow of thought, Patience still had
wit enough in the long hours of the day to guess that the nosegay
boded something. She could not daunt or damp Steadfast's joy--nay,
she had affection enough for the pretty little being she had
cherished for seven years to think she shared it--but she knew all
the time that there would be no place in that new farmhouse for her,
and there was a chill over her faithful heart at times. But what
would that signify, she thought, provided that Stead was happy?
CHAPTER XIX.
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