"Why, Jessie, you're not like yourself to-day, not one bit. What has come over you, I wonder?"
"Nothing. I'm just the same as I always was. Only I've got to hurry home, or I shall keep Millie waiting."
"Good-bye, then;" and Mrs. Groates turned away, very much hurt, while Jessie ran off with her eyes full.
It was hard to have to snub her kind friends, but what else could she do? If Jack had not the sense to understand and to come after her, things had to be thus. She at least would put it into the power of nobody to say that "Jessie had gone after Jack."
Mrs. Groates meanwhile walked on, thinking what a pity it was that so nice a girl should be so altered, and as she so considered, she met Miss Sophy Coxen.
"Good afternoon. It's a fine day," said Miss Sophy. "And how are you all getting on? I haven't seen much of you lately, but you must have had a deal to do with Jack laid by. He seems to be pretty nearly all right again now. I saw you talking just now to Jessie Perkins."
"Yes. How is Miss Coxen's hand?"
"Oh, pretty bad still. The doctor don't give any hope of its being fit for work for a long while yet. Just see what a time Mr. Gilbert's arm has been getting better. I don't think Mr. Bateson cures people as quick as he ought. He might do something or other, I should think."
"There's a good many things doctors can't do, and that's one, I shouldn't wonder," sagely remarked Mrs. Groates.
"Well, I don't know. I don't see why he shouldn't. It's very bad for us, I know; very bad indeed!" shaking her head till the curls danced. "I don't know whatever we shall do by-and-by. There's that Miss Pattison setting up herself for a fine London dressmaker, after pretending she wanted to help us, and getting all the work of the place into her hands. There 'll be nothing loft at all for sister and me to do, and however in the world we're to get along—. And that chit of a Jessie making believe to work too, as conceited as anything. They'll take the bread out of our mouths; and much they'll care."