THE COTTAGE ALLOTMENT SYSTEM. 169 



obstinate ; she spoke to him, she pushed and pulled him forwards, 

 until they reached the door ; a little boy was the only one in the 

 house, and he pointed out the lodger's room ; she got him in at last, 

 and down he fell on the floor in a dead sleep ; it was quite dark ; she 

 groped about for the bed, and taking off all the clothes, threw them 

 over him ; she then closed the door softly, got out of the house, and 

 ran all the way home, without stopping till she reached the garden 

 gate. There she rested a moment to recover breath ; the cottage was 

 before her, but father and mother were both gone ; the shrubbery, 

 too, where she and John had met so often but to-morrow she was 

 to leave all ; and John it overcame her at length she threw her 

 apron over her head, and gave way to a flood of tears. It was only 

 for a few minutes, however ; she had that cheeriness of heart that 

 rallies quickly under sorrow ; she dried her eyes, threw back the 

 hair from her forehead, and looked up at the stars almost with a 

 smile. For a short time she remained absorbed in thought, and then 

 re-entered the cottage with a light step and open brow. 



On the morning of the following day as Mr. Parker, a gentleman 

 of the neighbourhood, was sitting in his study, the servant announced 

 that a young woman wished to speak with him. The old gentleman 

 desired her to be shown in, and immediately recognized her as the 

 daughter of his late tenant, Farmer Baker. He made many inquiries 

 about her plans; told her she was welcome to stay in the cottage 

 another month or two, if she pleased ; spoke of the lady into whose 

 service she was going in the highest terms ; and expressed his readiness 

 to assist her in any thing ghe required. Mary acknowledged his 

 kindness, and said she did not know how to trespass on him further ; 

 but she had no other hope ; and then she told him the state of affairs 

 between Robinson and herself, with the exception of last night's scene ; 

 she related all his struggles and disappointments, and concluded with 

 asking, would Mr. Parker give Robinson the cottage, and only two 

 fields behind it, at any rent he might think proper ? 



" This is a very sudden request of yours, Mary," said Mr. Parker, 

 " how is it you never mentioned it before ?" Mary hesitated and 

 coloured, and at length confessed what had occurred the previous 

 night. " It is a bad habit," replied Mr. Parker, gravely. 



" Not a habit, sir, indeed, it is not a habit ; he was always sober and 

 industrious as long as he could get work ; but they have driven him 

 to spend all that he hoarded up for my sake, and that and my going 

 away has put him quite out of my mind." 



" You mean to marry him, then, if I were to give you the cottage ?" 



" Yes, sir." 



" I really do not know what to say ; small holdings are very bad 

 things ; and the fact is, I intended to have thrown your father's land 

 into one of the other farms; a cottager's is still worse, he has no 

 capital to stock or work his " 



" Oh ! sir," said Mary, ' ' I know nothing about that ; but if you 

 do not help me, John will be ruined ; only try us for a year. I know 

 we shall be able to pay you we shall, indeed ; even if you did lose 

 a little money by your kindness to an orphan girl, you would scarcely 



M.M.No.98, Z 



