id not trouble her. It
was an accidental sleep-over; she had not planned it, and circumstances
would take care of themselves. In any case, she had no fear of rebuke.
No one was ever cross with Ethel. It was a matter of pretty general
belief that whatever Ethel did was just right. So she dressed herself
becomingly in a cloth suit, and, with her plumed hat on her head, went
down to see what the day had to offer her.

"The first thing is coffee, and then, all being agreeable, Dora. I shall
not look further ahead," she thought.

As she entered the room she called "Good morning!" and her voice was
like the voice of the birds when they call "Spring!"; and her face was
radiant with smiles, and the touch of her lips and the clasp of her hand
warm with love and life; and her father and aunt forgot that she was
late, and that her breakfast was yet to order.

She took up the reproach herself. "I am so sorry, Aunt Ruth. I only want
a cup of coffee and a roll."

"My dear, you cannot go without a proper breakfast. Never mind the hour.
What would you like best?"

"You are so good, Ruth. I should like a nice breakfast--a breast of
chicken and mushrooms, and some hot muffins and marmalade would do.
How comfortable you look here! Father, you are buried in newspapers. Is
anyone going to church?"

Ruth ordered the desired breakfast and Mr. Rawdon took out his watch--"I
am afraid you have delayed us too long this morning, Ethel."

"Am I to be the scapegoat? Now, I do not believe anyone wanted to go to
church. Ruth had her book, you, the newspapers. It is warm and pleasant
here, it is cold and windy outside. I know what confession would be
made, if honesty were the fashion."

"Well, my little girl, honesty is the fashion in this house. I believe
in going to church. Religion is the Mother of Duty, and we should all
make a sad mess of life without duty. Is not that so, Ruth?"

"Truth itself, Edward; but religion is not going to church and listening
to sermons. Those who built the old cathedrals of Europe had no idea
that sitting in comfortable pews and listening to some man talking was
worshiping God. Those great naves were intended for men and women to
stand or kneel in before God. And there were no high or low standing
or kneeling places; all were on a level before Him. It is our modern
Protestantism which has brought in lazy lolling in cushioned pews; and
the gallery, which makes a church as like a playhouse as possible!"

"What