inated, and no lamps along the street
and no gas anywhere. Past the shut-up houses and stores, in the dim,
snowy street, the little cluster of girls went swiftly on.

"You are in a great hurry," said Clarissa.

"Oh, we want to get there before anything begins," Maria said. "And
it's cold, besides!"

"What church is this we are passing?"

"Oh, this is our church. You haven't seen it. It is real nice inside."

"Not outside?" said Clarissa. "Well, I cannot see it in this light. And
is that next place the one we are going to?"

"Yes, that's our lecture-room. That's _very_ nice."

So it was. Pleasant light from withinside streamed warm through the
hanging window-blinds of the long windows, and promised welcome before
they got in. At the door, under the projecting hood, a lamp shone
bright upon the entrance steps. People were flocking in. The opening
door let them into a cheerful room, not large, with long rows of seats
on either hand of a wide, matted aisle; the view closed by a little
desk at the farther end on a raised platform. Right and left of the
desk, two small transepts did somewhat to enlarge the accommodations of
the place, which had a cosy, home look, comfortable and bright.

"Where do those doors lead to?" Clarissa whispered;--"behind the desk?"

"Oh, those open to the infant class room. Isn't it nice?" Maria
answered.

"It is small," said Clarissa.

"It is large enough, though. _We_ shall not fill it to-night."

And they did not. There was only a little company gathered, of various
ages. Some quite grown people; many who were younger. They had drawn
towards the upper end of the room, and clustered near the platform.

"There is Mr. Richmond," Maria whispered presently; "do you see him? he
is up there near the desk talking to Mr. Barker,--Mr. Barker is one of
our teachers, but he has got nothing to do with the Band. That is Mrs.
Trembleton, isn't she pretty?--sitting down there in front; she always
sits just there, if she can, and I have seen her ever so put out if she
couldn't when somebody else had got it, you know. And there"----

"But, Maria," whispered Clarissa, gravely, "do you think it is quite
proper to whisper so in church?"

"This isn't church!" Maria replied, with great readiness.

"What then?"

"Why, it is only our Sunday-Schoolroom; and this is a Band meeting."

"It looks very like church to me," said Clarissa. "Hush! don't whisper
any more."

For the minister now took his stand