arried them and the book to the house.
Something had happened to her, also. She was out of tune with the
sunlight and warmth; she wanted to get close to life again and feel, as
she had earlier, the kinship and joy, but the mood had passed.

It was after the dishes of the midday meal were washed that she bethought
her of the old shrine back near the woods. It was many a day since she
had been there--not since the autumn before--and she felt old and
different, but still she had a sudden desire to return to it and try
again the mystic rite she had practised when she was a little girl. It
was like going back to play, to be sure; all the sacredness was gone, but
the interest remained, and her yearning spurred her to her only resource.

At two o'clock Nathaniel was off to a distant field, and Theodora
announced that she must walk to the village for a bit of "erranding." She
wanted Priscilla to join her, thinking it would please the girl, but
Priscilla shook her head and pleaded a weariness that was more mental
than physical. At three o'clock, arrayed in a fresh gown, over which hung
a red cape, Priscilla stole from the house and made her way to the
opening near the woods. As she drew close the power of suggestion
overcame the new sense of age and indifference; the witchery of the place
held her; the old charm reasserted itself; she was being hypnotized by
the Past. Tiptoeing to the niche in the rock she drew away the sheltering
boughs and branches she had placed there one golden September day. The
leaves had been red and yellow then; they were stiff and brown now. The
leering skull confronted her as it had in the past and changed her at
once to the devotee.

Before the dead thing the live, lovely creature bowed gravely. After all,
had not the image, instead of God, answered her first prayer? Nathaniel's
heart had not been softened and school had not been permitted, but there
had been lessons given by the master when she told him of her new god.
How he had laughed, clapping his knees with his long, thin, white hands!
But he had taught her on hillside and woodland path. No one knew this but
themselves and the strange idol!

A rapt look spread over Priscilla's face; the look of the worshipper who
could lose self in a passion. But this was no dread god that demanded
unlovely sacrifice. It was a glad creature that desired laughter, song,
and dance. Priscilla had seen to that. A repetition of her father's creed
would have been u