the door, and
remembering that she had undertaken to drive out Ermine Williams in it,
she was obliged to break off the conversation, with an eager entreaty
that Mr. Mauleverer would draw up an account of his plan, and bring it
to her the next day, when she would give her opinion on it, and consider
of the means.

"My dear," said her mother, on her return, "how long you have been; and
what am I to give for the water-colour?"

"Oh, I forgot all about the water-colour; but never mind what we give,
mamma, it is all to go to an asylum for educating poor girls, and giving
them some resource beyond that weary lace-making--the very thing I have
always longed for. He is coming to settle it all with me to-morrow, and
then we will arrange what to give."

"Indeed, my dear, I hope it will be something well managed. I think if
it were not for those middle-men, lace-making would not be so bad. But
you must not keep poor Miss Williams waiting."

Ermine had never seen Rachael in such high spirits as when they set out
through the network of lanes, describing her own exceeding delight in
the door thus opening for the relief of the suffering over which she had
long grieved, and launching out into the details of the future good
that was to be achieved. At last Ermine asked what Rachel knew of the
proposer.

"Captain Keith, heard he was a distinguished professor and essayist."

"Then I wonder we have not heard his name," said Ermine. "It is a
remarkable one; one might look in the 'Clergy List' at Villars's."

"Villars called him a clerical gentleman," mused Rachel.

"Then you would be sure to be able to find out something about him
before committing yourself."

"I can see what he is," said Rachel, "a very sensible, accomplished man,
and a great deal more; not exactly a finished gentleman. But that is no
objection to his doing a great work."

"None at all," said Ermine, smiling; "but please forgive me. We have
suffered so much from trusting too implicitly, that I never can think
it safe to be satisfied without thorough knowledge of a person's
antecedents."

"Of course," said Rachel, "I shall do nothing without inquiry. I will
find out all about him, but I cannot see any opening for distrust.
Schemes of charity are not compatible with self-seeking and dishonesty."

"But did I not hear something about opinions?"

"Oh, as to that, it was only Villars. Besides, you are a clergyman's
daughter, and your views have a different colou