He had a strong inclination to open his heart about Miss Carden.

Accordingly, one evening he said, "She lost her mother when she was a child." "Who lost her mother ?" asked Mrs.Little.
"Miss Carden," said Henry, very softly.
The tone was not lost on Mrs.Little's fine and watchful ear; at least her mind seized it a few seconds afterward.
"That is true," said she.

"Poor girl! I remember hearing of it.

Henry, what is that to you?
Don't you trouble your head about that young lady, or she will trouble your heart.

I wish you did not go near her." And then came question upon question, and vague maternal misgivings.
Henry parried them as adroitly as he could: but never mentioned Miss Carden's name again.
He thought of her all the more, and counted his gains every week, and began to inquire of experienced persons how much money was wanted to set up a wheel with steam power, and be a master instead of a man.