of Mistress Holland. She, of course, is true to holy Church
beyond all doubts?"

Mr Roberts went back to his previous condition of a frightened mouse.

"In good sooth, Father, I make no question thereof, nor never so did.
She conformeth in all respects, no doth she?"

The cat smiled to itself at the poor mouse's writhings under its playful
pats.

"She conformeth--ay: but I scarce need warn you, my son, that there be
many who conform outwardly, where the heart is not accordant with the
actions. I trust, in very deed, that it were an unjust matter so to
speak of Mistress Holland."

Saying which, the cat withdrew its paw, and suffered the mouse to escape
to its hole until another little excitement should be agreeable to it.
In other words, the priest said good-bye, and left Mr Roberts in a
state of mingled relief for the moment and apprehension for the future.
For a few minutes that unhappy gentleman sat lost in meditation. Then
rising with a muttered exclamation, wherein "meddlesome praters" were
the only words distinguishable, he went to the foot of the stairs, and
called up them, "Pandora!"

"There, now! You'll hear of something!" said Gertrude to her sister, as
she stood trying on a new apron before the glass. "You'd best go down.
When Father's charitably-minded he says either `Pan' or `Dorrie.'
`Pandora' signifies he's in a taking."

"I have done nought to vex him that I know of," replied Pandora, rising
from her knees before a drawer wherein she was putting some lace tidily
away.

"Well, get not me in hot water," responded Gertrude. "Look you, Pan,
were this lace not better to run athwart toward the left hand?"

"I cannot wait to look, True; I must see what Father would have."

As Pandora hastened downstairs, her aunt, Mrs Collenwood, came out of
her room and joined her.

"I hear my brother calling you," she said. "I would fain have a word
with him, so I will go withal."

The ladies found Mr Roberts wandering to and fro in the dining-room,
with the aspect of a very dissatisfied man. He turned at once to his
daughter.

"Pandora, when were you at confession?"

Pandora's heart beat fast. "Not this week, Father."

"Nor this month, maybe?"

"I am somewhat unsure, Father."

"Went you to mass on Saint Chad's Day?"

"Yes, Father."

"And this Saint Perpetua?"

"No, Father; I had an aching of mine head, you mind."

"Thomas," interjected Mrs Collenwood, before the examination could
proceed