air, as I said, gave me a lift in my
mother-in-law's estimation, and of course filled Bessie with the most
unbounded admiration, though I had never thought of the moral effect of
my action. In the morning I determined to follow up my advantage. It was
Sunday again, and I bespoke the team early, to go to the neighboring
town, where there was an Episcopal church, and where, for that day, a
distinguished divine from the city, who was spending his vacation in
those parts, was to hold forth. When I had announced my preparation for
the religious observance of the day, I actually received what was
almost a smile of approval from my mother-in-law. I enjoyed the ride,
and was not greatly bored by the service, for I was thinking of
something else most of the time, or amusing my mind with the native
congregation. We got back late to dinner, and the rest had left the
dining-room. The ladies went in without removing their bonnets, and
after dinner retired to their rooms.

As I came out on the piazza, Fred, who was walking about in a restless
way, puffing his cigar with a sort of ferocity, as though determined to
put it through as speedily as possible, shouted, "Hello! Charlie, old
boy, where the eternal furies have you been? Here I have been about this
dead, sleepy, stupid place all the morning, with nothing to do and
nobody to speak to!"

"Why, where's Mrs. M.?"

"Lib? Oh, she's been here, but then she was reading a ghastly stupid
novel, and wasn't company; and she went off to the big boarding-house
down the road half a mile, to dine with a friend. I wouldn't go to the
blasted place, and really think she didn't want me to. But where in
thunder were you all the while?"

"At church, to be sure, with my wife and her mother."

"Oh, yes!" was the reply, peculiarly prolonged, as if the idea never
occurred to him before. "How long since you became so pious, old man?
Didn't suppose you knew what the inside of a church was used for. The
outside is mainly useful to put a clock on, where it can be seen. Old
Pink,--beg pardon! Mrs. Pinkerton,--I suppose, dragged you along by main
force."

"Not at all. I went of my own motion; in fact, suggested it to the
ladies."

"You don't say so! Well, I see she is bringing you around. It is she
that is destined to gain the supremacy."

"Pshaw! Is my going to church such an indication of submission? It
wouldn't do you any harm to go to church once in a while, Fred."

"Well, I don't know about th