mistaken, my dear. Farmer Ingham had two
daughters, who were like sisters to me; but they were both older than I.
Their names were Grace and Faith. 'Twas a very quiet, peaceful
household. We rose with the sun in summer, and before it in winter--"

"Catch me!" interpolated Rhoda.

"And before any other thing might be done, there was reading and prayer
in the farmhouse kitchen. All the farm servants trooped in, and took
their places in order, the men on the right hand of the master, and the
women on the left of the mistress. Then the farmer read a chapter, and
afterwards prayed, all joining in `Our Father' at the end."

"But--he wasn't a parson?" demanded Rhoda, with a perplexed look.

"Oh no, my dear."

"Then how could he pray?" said Rhoda. "He'd no business to read the
Prayer-Book; and of course he couldn't pray without it."

"Ah, then he made a mistake," replied Mrs Dorothy very quietly. "He
fancied he could."

"But who ever heard of such a thing?" said Rhoda.

"We heard a good deal of it in those days, my dear. Why, child, the
Common Prayer was forbid, even in the churches. Nobody used it, save a
few here and there, that chose to run the risk of being found out and
punished."

"How queer!" cried Rhoda. "Well, go on, Mrs Dolly. I hope the prayers
weren't long. I should have wanted my breakfast."

"They were usually about three parts of an hour."

"Ugh!" with a manufactured shudder, came from Rhoda.

"After prayers, for an hour, each went to her calling. Commonly we took
it turn about, the girls and I--one with the mistress in the kitchen,
one with the maids in the chambers, and the third, if the weather was
fine, a-weeding the posies in the garden, or, if wet, at her sewing in
the parlour. Then the great bell was rung for breakfast, and we all
gathered again in the kitchen. For breakfast were furmety, eggs, and
butter, and milk, for the women; cold bakemeats and ale for the men."

"No tea?" asked Rhoda.

"I was near ten years old, child, ere coffee came into England; and tea
was some years later. The first coffee-house that ever was in this
realm was set up at Oxford, of one Jacobs, a Jew; and about two years
after was the first in London. For tea, 'twas said Queen Catherine
brought it hither from Portingale; but in truth, I believe 'twas known
among us somewhat sooner. But when it came in, for a long time none
knew how to use it, except at the coffee-houses. I could tell you a
drol