Page:Camperdown - Griffith - 1836.djvu/299

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THE THREAD AND NEEDLE STORE.
291

full length; but I shall soon have done—the property was to be sold on the following Monday, the very day the term expired.

"There is no difficulty, then, Mr. Norton," said Jenny Hart, "we can claim it yet, can we? Certainly my dear Jenny Hart—he could not have called her Jenny for the world, nor could I—so send Martin Barton to me. Can you tell why he chose to be called Martin Barton?—'tis so tiresome."

"Why, this very Camperdown Barton was the cause; he was a bad character even when very young, and our Martin Barton kept the two names together, that he might not be taken for his cousin. I only heard all this this morning, for we have been always too busy to talk of such matters. I think that Mrs. Martin Barton is even more particular on this point than he is. But, oh, Mr. Norton, don't our dear little girls grow finely?"

"Little girls indeed! why they are young women, taller than yourself, Jenny Hart; but they don't eclipse you yet; you are as pretty and good as ever, hard-hearted girl that you are; but I claim the promise of giving you away," said the kind old bachelor, seeing Jenny Hart shy off. "Good morning, then, if you must go; but this shop business will kill you; you work too hard."

"Never fear," said she, and down she tripped, pitying Mr. Norton for his hopeless love, although he was now quite resigned to it; and congratulating Martin Barton on this handsome accession of property. Of course, every thing was properly done, and to the entire satisfaction of every one but the poor folks, who were on the point of getting the money. This Camperdown Barton had, in reality, secreted the will of their uncle; but on the death of his children he repented, and restored as much of the property as was left to the true owner.

But oh, what a plot Jenny Hart had in hand—her first plot and her last. She had acquainted Martin