capacity of thinking. That is your
inference, is it not?" asked May, with a gay laugh.

"You have a sharp tongue, Miss Webster. All I hinted at was that
country people are slow to exercise their individual judgment on any
question. They follow each other like a flock of sheep."

"And aren't they wise to do it when they have so kind and good a
shepherd?" with a glance at the rector's handsome head, as he stood at
a little distance off, talking with a happy, radiant face to her
mother. "I wish you would tell me what possible motive you had in
trying to upset a man who lives in the hearts of his people."

Paul was interested in spite of himself, for he saw that May had passed
from brilliant nonsense to earnestness.

"It was not the man I wished to upset--nobody can fail to appreciate
his simple earnestness,--but it is his principle. And your very
intolerance makes me feel that I was right to state the other side of
the question."

"We won't quarrel any more; I'm tired of it," said May, with a quick
change of mood. "Let us look at all the people who are ready to bide
by their words, as Macdonald puts it."

The subscription list was headed by the rector with two hundred pounds.

"He's not a rich man," said May, pointing to the sum.

"And he can't be a poor one," retorted Paul.

May seated herself and toyed with the pen which lay upon the table.

"I'm in a difficulty; I want an opinion."

"Legal?" said Paul. "If so, I might help you.

"Moral rather."

"Oh, then it's a case for the man who lives in the hearts of his
people. Shall I call him?"

"You are not keeping the peace. For want of a better adviser I'll put
my difficulty before you."

"And I will give you my opinion for what it is worth; you need not act
on it unless you like."

"Oh no, I shan't. Should you think it right for me to put my name down
on this subscription list when I owe, I'm afraid to say how much, to my
dressmaker?"

"At the risk of being told again that I'm truthfully disagreeable, I
answer emphatically, No! I should call it a most immoral act."

"Well, I'm going to do it anyway, and the person who has influenced me
is yourself. You implied that I was unwilling to pay for my
convictions; and my dressmaker must wait."

And May dipped her pen in the ink and wrote her name boldly under her
mother's.

"Don't do it!" pleaded Paul, hurriedly. "Can't you see that the
dressmaker, who earns her money so hardly, and waits for