gnantly at her eyes. By the time Cecilia returned she was
sitting in her favourite chair, a picture of placid and indifferent old
age.

"That's better," she said, with an approving nod; "much better."

She rose, and going up to her daughter rearranged her dress a little.
"You look very nice, dear," she paid, with a little cough. "Mr. Truefitt
ought to be proud of you. Good-by."

[Illustration: You look very nice, dear 264]

Her daughter kissed her, and then, having got as far as the door, came
back and kissed her again. She made a second attempt to depart, and
then, conscience proving too much for her, uttered a stifled sob and
came back to her mother.

"Oh, I can't," she wailed; "I can't."

"You'll be late," said her mother, pushing her away. "Good-by."

"I can't," sobbed Miss Willett; "I can't do it. I'm--I'm deceiving----"

"Yes, yes," said the old lady, hastily; "tell me another time. Good-by."

She half led and half thrust her daughter to the door.

"But," said the conscience-stricken Cecilia, "you don't under--"

"A walk will do you good," said her mother; "and don't cry; try and look
your best."

She managed to close the door on her, and her countenance cleared as she
heard her daughter open the hall door and pass out. Standing well back
in the room, she watched her to the gate, uttering a sharp exclamation
of annoyance as Cecilia, with a woebegone shake of the head, turned and
came up the path again. A loud tap at the window and a shake of the head
were necessary to drive her off.

Mrs. Willett gave her a few minutes' start, and then, in a state of
extraordinary excitement, went upstairs and, with fingers trembling with
haste, put on her bonnet and cape.

"You're not going out alone at this time o' the morning, ma'am?" said
the old servant, as she came down again.

"Just as far as the corner, Martha," said the old lady, craftily.

"I'd better come with you," said the other.

"Certainly not," said Mrs. Willett. "I'm quite strong this morning. Go
on with your stoves."

She took up her stick and, opening the door, astonished Martha by her
nimbleness. At the gate she looked right and left, and for the first
time in her life felt that there were too many churches in Salthaven.
For several reasons, the chief being that Cecilia's father lay in the
churchyard, she decided to try St. Peter's first, and, having procured
a cab at the end of the road, instructed the cabman to drive to within
fifty yard