"I hevn't worn them since father died, thou knowest," she had said to John the day before the wedding, as she stood before him with the gems in her hands, "but tomorrow he will expect me to wear them both for his sake and thine, thou dear, dear lad!" And she looked up at her son and down at the jewels and her eyes were dim with tears. Presently she continued, "Jane was here this afternoon. I dare say thou art going to the train with her tonight, and may be she will tell thee what she is going to wear. She didn't offer to tell me, and I wouldn't ask her—not I!"
"What for?"
"I thought she happen might be a bit superstitious about talking of her wedding fineries. You can talk the luck out of anything, you know, John."
"Nay, nay, mother!"
"To be sure, you can. Why-a! Your father never spoke of any business he wanted to come to a surety, and if I asked him about an offer or a con
tract he would answer, 'Be quiet, Martha, dost ta want to talk it to death?'"
"I will keep mind of that, mother."
"Happen it will be worth thy while to do so."
"Father was a shrewd man."
"Well, then, he left one son able to best him if so inclined."