r, with
many interruptions for Mary to wipe her eyes on the corner of her gingham
apron, and remark it would soon be over, and she did not know where she
would ever get such another place. Once the rector turned and sharply
bade her hold her tongue. Mr. Denner opened his eyes at that, though he
had scarcely seemed to hear her. Nor did he know why Gifford and the
rector talked so long with the doctor on the broad flat stone at the
front door, in the fragrant spring twilight. Afterwards he beckoned
Gifford to him.

He did not quite like, he said, to leave his rod out over night; he could
go and get it in the morning, he knew, but if it wouldn't be too much
trouble, he would be obliged if Gifford would bring it in. And there were
two trout in the basket: perhaps he would be good enough to present them,
with his compliments, to the Misses Woodhouse. Gifford went for the rod,
but could not go back without an inquiry at the rectory.

"Arabella Forsythe," said Mrs. Dale,--"well, as I told brother, I think
this is her opportunity. She really is in a bad way, Giff. Lois wasn't
hurt at all, wonderful to say; but, naturally, she's in great distress,
because she blames herself for the whole thing."

"How so?" asked Gifford.

"Well, of course," Mrs. Dale answered, rubbing her little red nose with
her handkerchief, and with a suspicious mist in her eyes,--"of course it
really was her fault, only we mustn't let her know we think so. You see,
she was driving. (I've always said women don't know how to drive; they're
too inconsequent.) She wasn't paying attention to her horse, and let a
rein slip. Before she could pick it up, the horse shied at a newspaper
blowing along the road. Well, you know the rest. But Lois does not know
that we think it was her carelessness."

Gifford hesitated a moment, and then said slowly, "But wouldn't it be
better to help her face the truth of it now? There is no use to try to
escape self-reproaches that have their root in facts."

"Nonsense!" responded Mrs. Dale sharply. "I thought you had more
sympathy!"

Gifford had told his aunts of the accident, when he brought them the
offering of the two small fishes, and the ladies were full of distress
and anxiety, and the flutter of excited interest which would be sure to
be felt in a place like Ashurst. They had gone at once to the rectory, to
see if they could be of use, though, as Miss Deborah said to her sister,
"with Adele Dale there, of course there is