XI

beautiful,andremainsoperpetuallyduringourlivesandshetoowasoneofGod'schildren,andinsidehersoul,behindthecrustoffailingsthathindereditduringtheseyearsfromcomingout,satherbrightangel,waiting.MeanwhileshewasnotapersontowatchthedestructionofherhopeswithoutmakingviolenteffortstostopitandimmediatelyshehadplayedthevicarintothevestryafterservicethatSundaysheleftthecongregationorganlessandhurriedawayintothechurchyard.Thereshestoodandwaitedforthevillagerstoquestionthemaboutthisunheardofthinganditwasbadtoseehowtheymeltedawayinotherdirections,—outatunusedgates,makingdetoursoverthegrass,visitingthelong-neglectedgravesofrelatives,anywhereratherthanalongtheordinaryway,whichwasthepathwherethevicar'swifestood.AtlastcameMrs.Vickertonthepostmistress.Shewasdeepinconversationwiththeinnkeeper'swife,anddidnotseethefigureonthepathintimetomeltawayherself.Ifshehadshecertainlywouldhavemelted,forthoughshehadnochildrenbuthergrown-upsonshefeltveryguiltyforitwashersonwhohadbeensenttheafternoonbeforetoMineheadbyPriscillawithalistaslongashisarmofthecakesandthingstobeorderedfortheparty."OhMrs.Morrison,Ididn'tseeyou,"sheexclaimed,startingandsmilingandturningred.Shewasagenteelwomanwhocallednoonemum. Theinnkeeper'swifeslippeddeftlyawayamonggraves. "IsittruethatthechildrenaregoingtoBaker'sFarmthisafternoon?"askedMrs.Morrison,turningandwalkinggrimlybyMrs.Vickerton. "Ididhearsomethingaboutit,Mrs.Morrison,"saidMrs.Vickerton,hidingheragitationbehindaseriesofsmileswithsuddenendings. "All?" "Ididheartheyprettywellallthoughtofit,"saidMrs.Vickerton,coughing."Beautifulweather,isn'tit,Mrs.Morrison." "Theyaretohaveteathere?" Mrs.Vickertongazedpleasantlyatthecloudsandthetree-tops."Ishouldthinktheremightbetea,Mrs.Morrison,"shesaidandthevisionofthatmightylistofcakesrisingbeforehereyesmadeherputupherhandandcoughagain. "Havetheparentslosttheirsenses?" "Icouldn'tsay—Ireallycouldn'tsay,Mrs.Morrison." "Havetheyforgottenthecommandments?" "OhI'openot,Mrs.Morrison." "Andthevicar'steaching?Andthegoodhabitsofyears?" "Oh,Mrs.Morrison." "Ineverheardofanythingmoredisgraceful.Disgracefultothegiverandtothosewhoaccept.Wicked,scandalous,andunscriptural." "Weall'opedyou'dseenoharminit,Mrs.Morrison.It'safineday,andthey'lljusthavetea,andperhaps—singalittle,andtheydon'tgettreatsoftenthistimeofyear." "Why,it'sdisgraceful—disgracefulanywheretohaveatreatonaSundaybutinaparishlikethisitisscandalous.WhenLadyShuttleworthhearsofitIquiteexpectshe'llgiveeverybodynoticetoquit." "Noticetoquit?OhIhopenot,Mrs.Morrison.Andshedoknowaboutit.Shehearditlastnight.AndSirAugustushimselfhaspromisedtheyoungladytogoandhelp." "SirAugustus?" "Andweallthinkitsokindofhim,andsokindoftheyoungladytoo,"saidMrs.Vickerton,gatheringcourage. "SirAugustus?"repeatedMrs.Morrison.Thenahorridpresentimentlaidcoldfingersonherheart."Isanyoneelsegoingtohelp?"sheaskedquickly. "Onlytheyounglady'suncle,and—" Mrs.Vickertonhesitated,andlookedatthevicar'swifewithaslightlypuzzledair. "Andwho?" "OfcourseMr.Robin."