d," said Monica. "When you and Guy are
married it would be terrible if your duties were to be the cause of a
disagreement. Why, he might even persuade you to give up going to
Confession."

"Darling Monica," said Pauline, nervously, "I'd rather you didn't talk
about this any more. You see, you're so much better than I, and you've
thought so much more deeply than I have about religion. I don't think I
shall ever be able to make my faith so narrow a ... so strict a rule as
yours is. No, please, Monica, don't let us talk about this subject any
more."

"I only mentioned it because I'm afraid that with your beautiful nature
you will be too merciful to that Guy of yours."

"Oh, and I'd really rather you didn't say my nature was beautiful,"
Pauline protested. "Truthfully, Monica darling, it's a very ugly nature
indeed, and I'm afraid it's getting uglier every day."

Her sister's cloistral smile flickered upon the scene like the wan
February sunlight.

"I do hope Guy really appreciates you," was what she said.

"See how the sparrows have pulled the crocuses into ribbons," Pauline
exclaimed. And so that Monica could not talk to her any more, she hailed
her father, who was wandering along towards the house on the other side
of the lawn. When he sauntered across to them she pointed out the
destructiveness of the sparrows.

"Ah, well, my dear," he chuckled, "most florists are worse."

"Perhaps _I'm_ a florist," Monica whispered, "and Guy may be only a
mischievous sparrow."

Pauline smiled at Monica and took her arm gratefully and affectionately.

"We shall have all the daffs gone before we know where we are," said the
Rector. "Maximus is out under the oaks. And King Alfred is just going to
turn down his buds."

"Dear King Alfred," said Pauline. "How glad I shall be to say good
morning to him again!"

Yes, all the daffodils would soon be here and then gone; and beyond this
austere afternoon already she could fancy a smell of March winds.

After Monica's question it was no longer possible for Pauline when she
was alone to avoid facing the problem of Guy's attitude towards
religion. The repression of her anxiety on this point had only increased
the force of it when it was set free like this to compete with, and, in
fact, overshadow all other cares. Looking back to her earliest thoughts
of the world as it would one day affect herself, she remembered how, if
she had ever imagined some one in love with her, she had always