nderstand," persists Lucy. "I only read sensible
books, and talk of serious things, because I'm sure... because I have
heard say...dear Mrs. Berry! don't you understand now?"

Mrs. Berry smacked her knees. "Only to think of her bein' that
thoughtful! and she a Catholic, too! Never tell me that people of one
religion ain't as good as another, after that. Why, you want to make him
a historian, to be sure! And that rake of a lord who've been comin' here
playin' at wolf, you been and made him--unbeknown to himself--sort o'
tutor to the unborn blessed! Ha! ha! say that little women ain't got art
ekal to the cunningest of 'em. Oh! I understand. Why, to be sure, didn't
I know a lady, a widow of a clergyman: he was a postermost child, and
afore his birth that women read nothin' but Blair's 'Grave' over and over
again, from the end to the beginnin';--that's a serious book!--very hard
readin'!--and at four years of age that child that come of it reelly was
the piousest infant!--he was like a little curate. His eyes was up; he
talked so solemn." Mrs. Berry imitated the little curate's appearance and
manner of speaking. "So she got her wish, for one!"

But at this lady Lucy laughed.

They chattered on happily till bedtime. Lucy arranged for Mrs. Berry to
sleep with her. "If it's not dreadful to ye, my sweet, sleepin' beside a
woman," said Mrs. Berry. "I know it were to me shortly after my Berry,
and I felt it. It don't somehow seem nat'ral after matrimony--a woman in
your bed! I was obliged to have somebody, for the cold sheets do give ye
the creeps when you've been used to that that's different."

Upstairs they went together, Lucy not sharing these objections. Then Lucy
opened certain drawers, and exhibited pretty caps, and laced linen, all
adapted for a very small body, all the work of her own hands: and Mrs.
Berry praised them and her. "You been guessing a boy--woman-like," she
said. Then they cooed, and kissed, and undressed by the fire, and knelt
at the bedside, with their arms about each other, praying; both praying
for the unborn child; and Mrs. Berry pressed Lucy's waist the moment she
was about to breathe the petition to heaven to shield and bless that
coming life; and thereat Lucy closed to her, and felt a strong love for
her. Then Lucy got into bed first, leaving Berry to put out the light,
and before she did so, Berry leaned over her, and eyed her roguishly,
saying, "I never see ye like this, but I'm half in love with