h Todd,
more gipsy-looking than ever, who came out. Not, however, walking as if
intoxicated, and quite able to comprehend Captain Carbonel's brief
explanation where to find her companion.

"Ah, poor Nanny!" she said cheerfully. "She's got no head! A drop is
too much for her."

The chaise door was shut, and they went on, Dora and Mary shocked
infinitely, and hardly able to speak of what they had seen.

And they did not feel any happier when the next day, as Mary was feeding
the chickens, Nanny came up to her, curtseying and civil.

"Please, ma'am, I'm much obliged to you for seeing to me last night. I
just went in to see if my husband was there, as was gone to Poppleby
with some sheep, and they treated me, ma'am. And that there Tirzah and
Bet Bracken, they was a-singing songs, as it was a shame to hear, so I
ups and rebukes them, and she flies at me like a catamount, ma'am; and
then Mr Oldfellow, he puts me out, ma'am, as was doing no harms as
innocent as a lamb."

"Well," said Mrs Carbonel, "it was no place for any woman to be in, and
we were grieved, I cannot tell you how much, that you should be there.
You had better take care; you know drunkenness is a really wicked sin in
God's sight."

"Only a little overtaken--went to see for my husband," muttered Nanny.
"I didn't take nigh so much as that there Tirzah Todd, that is there
with Bet Bracken every night of her life, to sing--"

"Never mind other people. Their doing wrong doesn't make you right."

"Only a drop," argued Nanny. "And that there Tirzah and Bet--"

Mary was resolved against hearing any more against Tirzah and Bet, and
actually shut herself into the granary till Nanny was gone. And there
she sat down on a sack of peas and fairly cried at the thought of the
sin and ignorant unconsciousness of evil all round her. And then she
prayed a little prayer for help and wisdom for these poor people and
themselves. Then she felt cheered up and hopeful.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

SUNDAY SCHOOL.

"She hastens to the Sunday School." _Jane Taylor_.

Captain Carbonel had written to the President of Saint Cyril's, and at
once obtained his willing consent to the ladies attempting to form a
little Sunday School. Dr Fogram said that he should come down himself
on July 21, and should be very glad to take counsel with the Carbonels
on the state of Uphill. He would be glad to assist if any outlay were
needed.

The sisters were in high spirits. The only