faults. "If we were all as blind as Dinah," her sister
would say, "the world would be a happier place;" but all the same she
loved and reverenced the simple goodness and sweetness that by a divine
alchemy transmuted base metal into gold.

Elizabeth was quite aware why Dinah shook her head so disapprovingly.
Cedric's hero had found favour in her eyes, and she wished her other
self--for so she tenderly termed Elizabeth--to do homage to him
likewise; but Elizabeth's gratitude and her wholesome liking were not
disposed to hero-worship. "Mr. Herrick was very nice, and a great
acquisition, and she was quite sure they would soon be good friends;"
and as Elizabeth always meant what she said, Dinah felt tolerably
satisfied with this verdict.

"And now let me hear about Mr. Carlyon, Betty," she observed
cheerfully. "I do hope his holiday was not spoiled by Theo's shiftless
ways."

"Oh, as to that," returned Elizabeth impatiently, "Theo will be Theo to
the end of her days. It is a mystery to me how good people can be so
aggravating. Her brother always declares that she is really a good
woman."

"I should certainly think he was right, dear."

"Her goodness is rather microscopic then," returned Elizabeth drily.
"Mr. Carlyon--our Mr. Carlyon, you know--told me that it fretted him
sadly to see how his father's little comforts were neglected. Theo puts
her parochial work before her home duties. He said the meals were badly
served and badly cooked; that Theo often came in late for dinner and
took a hasty meal in her bonnet; that in the evening there was no
sociality--his father wrote his sermons or buried himself in his books,
and Theo worked at her accounts or dropped asleep from sheer fatigue on
the couch."

"Poor Mr. Carlyon, he deserves a better daughter; but Theo has always
been a restless, bustling sort of mortal. I suppose David--we really
must call him David between ourselves, Betty, to distinguish him--I
suppose he will have his father as usual in August?"

"Oh dear, yes; and Mrs. Pratt will lead them both a life. She always
does; I never saw such, a woman. I mean to give her a bit of my mind
one of these days."

"She is almost as trying as Theo," returned Dinah with a smile. "I
think David gives in to her too much for the sake of peace."

"So I often tell him." "I wish Mr. Charrington would invite Mr. Carlyon
to the vicarage. Mrs. Finch is such a comfortable soul; she thinks
nothing a trouble. But I suppose such an