patiently reasoned with until another and
more suitable comforter was substituted. She did not, of course, put the
matter to herself thus barely; but this was what her decision
practically amounted to.

But although people might not be talking, as Mrs. Herbert imagined,
about Christopher and Felicia, the tongues of Sedgehill were all agog
on the subject of the evident attachment between Elisabeth Farringdon
and the master of the Moat House.

"I'm afeared as our Miss Elisabeth is keeping company with that Mr.
Tremaine; I am indeed," Mrs. Bateson confided to her crony, Mrs. Hankey.

Mrs. Hankey, as was her wont, groaned both in spirit and in person. "So
I've heard tell, more's the pity! Miss Elisabeth is no favourite of
mine, as you know, being so dark-complexioned as a child, and I never
could abide dark babies. I haven't much to be thankful for, I'm sure,
for the Lord has tried me sore, giving me Hankey as a husband, and such
a poor appetite as I never enjoy a meal from one year's end to another;
but one thing I can boast of, and that is my babies were all fair, with
as clear a skin as you could want to see. Still, I don't wish the young
lady no harm, it not being Christian to do so; and it is sad at her age
to be tied to a husband from which there is no outlet but the grave."

"I don't hold with you there, Mrs. Hankey; it is dull work for the women
who have nobody to order 'em about and find fault with 'em. Why, where's
the good of taking the trouble to do a thing well, if there's no man to
blame you for it afterward? But what I want to see is Miss Elisabeth
married to Master Christopher, them two being made for one another, as
you might say."

"He has a new heart and a nice fresh colour, has Master Christopher;
which is more than his own mother--supposing she was alive--could say
for Mr. Tremaine."

"That is so, Mrs. Hankey. I'm afeared there isn't much religion about
him. He don't even go to church on a Sunday, let alone chapel; though
he is wonderful charitable to the poor, I must admit."

Mrs. Hankey pursed up her mouth. "And what are works without faith, I
should like to know!"

"Quite true--quite true; but maybe the Lord ain't quite as hard on us as
we are on one another, and makes allowances for our bringing-up and
such."

"Maybe," replied Mrs. Hankey, in a tone which implied that she hoped her
friend was mistaken.

"You see," continued Mrs. Bateson, "there's nothing helps you to
understand the way