o be a member of the church,
as I intend to become a permanent resident of the city," Mary Grey
explained, with her charming smile.

The pastor expressed himself highly gratified, and added:

"Your large circle of friends, that you won during your long visit here
two or three years ago, will be delighted to hear of this."

Mary Grey bowed gracefully and said:

"The pleasure, she believed, would, like the advantage, be mostly on her
own side."

Then she inquired of the rector--with an apology for troubling him with
her own humble affairs--whether he could recommend her to any private
boarding-house among the members of his own church, where the family
were really earnest Christians.

The rector could not think of any suitable place just then, but he
begged to have the pleasure of introducing Mrs. Grey to his wife, who,
he said, would most likely be able to advise her.

And he rang the bell and sent a message to Mrs. ----, who presently
entered the study.

The introduction took place, and the rector's wife received the visitor
as cordially as the rector had.

She knew of no boarding-house of the description required by Mrs. Grey,
but she promised to inquire among her friends and let that lady know the
result.

Soon after this Mrs. Grey took leave.

Many of her former friends were, at this season of the year, out of
town, as she felt sure; but some among them would probably be at home.

So, before she returned to her hotel, she made a round of calls, and
left her cards at about a dozen different houses.

She then went back to her room at the hotel and spent the remainder of
the day in unpacking and reviewing her elegant wardrobe.

There was no sort of necessity for doing this, especially as she
intended to remain but a few days at the house; and the operation would
only give her the trouble of repacking again to move.

But Mary Grey never read or wrote or sewed or embroidered if she could
avoid it, and had nothing on earth else to occupy or amuse her; so her
passion for dress had to be gratified with the sight of jewels, shawls
and mantles, laces, silks and satins, even though she durst not wear
them.

Next day the rector's wife called on her and recommended a very superior
boarding-house to her consideration.

It was a private boarding-house, in a fashionable part of the town, kept
by two maiden ladies of the most aristocratic family connections and of
the highest church principles.

This was exact