ass
without his coming?

A carriage drove up to the door. Mrs. Garman, who had just finished a
little private breakfast in her own room, put down her paper and said,
"Is it possible? Can it be visitors in this weather?"

Rachel felt that she was blushing. She had recognized his voice in the
hall, and to conceal her emotion, she sat down at the piano and
aimlessly struck a few chords.

The door opened and in came Dean Sparre, followed by Mr. Johnsen. Rachel
turned round on the music-stool, bringing her hand down with a crash on
some of the bass notes of the piano. Her eye never wandered from
Johnsen, as if she expected every moment that he would begin to speak,
and give some explanation as to why he came in such company.

Dean Sparre gave a cordial greeting to the ladies, at the same time
mildly reproaching Rachel for not having paid them a visit at the
deanery. He had a great many messages for her from his "little girls."

Mrs. Garman became reconciled as soon as she saw who were the visitors.
There was nothing she enjoyed more than a gossip with clergymen.

The conversation first turned upon the disagreeable weather, but
Rachel's eyes never once moved from the inspector. He did not look in
her direction; his face was pale, and his lips closely pressed together.

"We particularly wished, my young friend and I," at last began the dean,
"to pay this visit at your house together. There are many things that
can be explained, and many misunderstandings which can be avoided, if
one only has an opportunity of talking a matter thoroughly over."

The dean paused and looked at Mr. Johnsen, who made a momentary effort
to speak, in which he signally failed.

"It would be most unfortunate," continued the dean, "if a few
ill-considered remarks should leave an impression on our congregation
that there was any want of agreement, or rather, I should say,
difference of opinion, among those who have to work together in the
service of the Church."

Rachel had left her seat, and was now standing before Mr. Johnsen. "Is
that your opinion?"

"My dear Rachel!" interrupted Mrs. Garman. Rachel's eccentricities
really exceeded all bounds.

"Is that your opinion?" repeated Rachel, with the severity of a judge
condemning a criminal.

Johnsen raised his head nervously and looked at her. "Allow me to
explain, Miss Garman," he began. But he could not withstand the
penetrating glance of those clear blue eyes, and hung down his head, and