XI

ildren'spartiesbuthadgotaninvitationbylookingwistfulattherightmoment. "Emma,"saidMrs.Morrisoninpassing,"youhavenotreturnedthebookIlentyou.Bringitupthisafternoon." "Pleasemum,I'llbringitto-morrow,mum,"saidthegirl,curtseyingandturningred. "No,Emma,youwilldoasIdirect.Onecanneverbetooparticularaboutreturningbooks.Youhavekeptitanunconscionabletime.Youwillbringittothevicarageatfouro'clock." "Pleasemum,I—Ican'tatfouro'clock." "Andpray,Emma,whatistopreventyou?" "I—I'mgoingtoBaker's,mum." "GoingtoBaker's?WhyareyougoingtoBaker's,Emma?" Soitallcameout. Thebellswerejuststopping,andMrs.Morrison,whoplayedtheorgan,wasforcedtohurryinwithouthavingtoldEmmaherwholeopinionofthosewhogaveandthosewhoattendedSundayparties,butthepreludesheplayedthatdayexpressedthetumultofhermindverywell,andstruckTussieShuttleworth,whohadsensitiveears,quitecold.Hewastheonlypersoninthechurchacutelysensitivetosound,anditwasveryafflictingtohim,thisplungingamongthepedals,thisangryshriekingofstopsnomaneveryethadheardtogether.Theveryblowerseemedfrightened,andblewingaspsandthestartledTussie,comparingthesoundstotheclamouringsofafiendinpain,couldnotpossiblyguesstheyweremerelythemusicalexpressionofthestateofajustwoman'ssoul. Mrs.Morrison'sangerwasperfectlyproper.Ithadbeentheconscientiousendeavouroftwenty-fivesolidyearsofherlifetomakeofSymfordamodelparish,andworkingunderLadyShuttleworth,whosepowerwasgreatsinceallthecottageswereherson'sandwerelivedinbyhisownlabourers,ithadbeenkeptinastateofordersonearlyperfectastoraiseittothepositionofanexampletotheadjoiningparishes.Thechurchwasfull,theSunday-schoolwellattended,theSabbathwaskeptholy,thewomenwereoneandallsoberandthrifty,themenwerefairlysatisfactoryexceptonSaturdaynights,therewasnowant,littlesickness,andveryseldomdownrightsin.TheexpressiondownrightsinisMrs.Morrison'sown,—heavenforbidthatIshouldhaveanythingtodowithsuchanexpression—andIsupposeshemeantbyitthieving,murder,andothergrossnessesthatwouldbringthesinner,assheoftentoldherawe-struckDorcasclass,toinfalliblegallows,andthesinner'sparents'greyhairstosorrowfulgraves."Pleasemum,willtheparentsgotoo?"askedagirlonedaywhohadlistenedbreathlessly,aninquiring-mindedgirlwholikedtogettotherootofthings. "Gowhere,Bessie?" "Withthegreyhairs,mum." Mrs.MorrisonpausedamomentandfixedasearchinggazeonBessie'sface.Thenshesaidwithmuchdignity,"Theparents,Bessie,willnaturallyfollowthehairs."AndtoagirlbredinthenearneighbourhoodofExmooritsoundedverysporting. Intothisinnocent,frugal,well-managedhamletPriscilladroppedsuddenlyfromnowhere,trailingwithherthunder-cloudsofimpulsiveandchildishideasaboutdoinggood,andholdinginherhandsthedangerousweaponofwealth.Itishardtostandbyandseeone'slife-workbrokenupbeforeone'seyesbyanirresponsiblestranger,aforeigner,agirl,ayounggirl,aprettygirlespeciallyhardifonewasbornwithanunbendingcharacter,toughanddetermined,ambitiousandvain.Thesearenotreproachesbeingpileduponthevicar'swifewhoshalldarereproachanother?Andhowcouldshehelpbeingbornso?Wewouldallifwecouldbeborngoodandamiableand