mind without sayin' prayers an' singin' 'ymns all the week long.
There's the Sunday for that, an' I can't see as it's pleasin' to God
neither to do so much of it at other times. Now suppose I give somebody
credit in the shop, on the understandin' as they come an' pay their
bill once a week reg'lar; do you think I should like to have 'em
lookin' in two or three times every day an' cryin' out: "Oh, Mrs.
Bower, ma'am, I don't forget as I owe you so and so much; be sure I
shall come an' pay on Saturday!" If they did that, I should precious
soon begin to think there was something wrong, else they'd 'old their
tongues an' leave it to be understood as they was honest. Why, an' it's
every bit the same with religion!'

Mr. Boddy listened gravely to this, and had the air of probing the
suggested analogy. He had a bad cold, poor old man, and for the moment
it made him look as if he indulged too freely in ardent beverages; his
nose was red and his eyes were watery.

'How's the little un, my dear?' he asked, as Lydia took a seat by him.

'Oh, she's much better, grandad. Mrs. Grail is so kind to her, you
wouldn't believe. She'll be all right again by Monday, I think.'

'Mrs. Grail's kind to her, is she?' remarked Mr. Bower. Why, you're
getting great friends with the Grails, Miss Lydia.'

'Yes, we really are.'

'And do you see much of Grail himself?'

'No, not much. We sometimes have tea with them both.'

'Ah, you do? He's a very decent, quiet fellow, is Grail. I dare say he
tells you something about Egremont now and then?'

Mr. Bower put the question in a casual way; in truth, it was designed
to elicit information which he much desired. He knew that for some time
Grail had been on a new footing with the lecturer, that the two often
remained together after the class had dispersed; it was a privilege
which he regarded disapprovingly, because it lessened his own dignity
in the eyes of the other men. He wondered what the subject of these
private conversations might be; there had seemed to him something of
mystery in Grail's manner when he was plied with a friendly inquiry or
two.

'I've heard him speak of the lectures,' said Lydia. 'He says he enjoys
them very much.'

'To be sure. Yes, they're very fair lectures, very fair, in their way.
I don't know as I've cared quite so much for 'em lately as I did at
first. I've felt he was falling off a little. I gave him a hint a few
weeks ago; just told him in a quiet way as I thoug