A SPOKE IN THE WHEEL 67

she had said that the old woman often quarrelled? —
and if so, why was she called Bannerman? Was
that her mother’s name? and if so, why, then, was
the old woman called Bellamy? He could not
understand these things. One thing, however, he
could very well understand, and that was, that he
was desperately in love ; should never love anybody
else as long as he lived; and if he were but out of
his time would marry her instantly, even if he had
to starve all the rest of his life for it.

What an awkward thing it is for a young man
violently in love, and a little headstrong into the
bargain, not to be out of his time—not to be at
liberty to do just as he likes! He grew quite
desperate there, down among the whitening casks
and the hogsheads of oil and vinegar. He remem-
bered her tears, and that she had declared herself to
be unhappy; and that she had to display all her
charms and her powers of pleasing every night to
worthless crowds, whilst he was dying but for one
glance of hers. And then, how did he know but
that some young fellow who was “ out of his time,”
and his own master, might not fall in love with her,
and carry her off at once! What so likely? He
then laid a thousand impossible plans, which at the
moment he vowed to execute. He would join the
company, and travel with her. He would run off
with her, and get married; his uncle and aunt
would be angry, he knew, but in the end they
would forgive him. Jessie should throw herself at
their feet; they could never withstand her beauty
and her tears. In the midst of this scene he was
woke to reality and a dinner of boiled beef and
turnips. Poor Williams! he had no appetite, and