as a clever little fellow and he honestly thought
it was the fame of his preaching that had brought Old Lady Lloyd out to
church.

When the service was over all the Old Lady's neighbours came to speak
to her, with kindly smile and handshake. They thought they ought to
encourage her, now that she had made a start in the right direction; the
Old Lady liked their cordiality, and liked it none the less because she
detected in it the same unconscious respect and deference she had been
wont to receive in the old days--a respect and deference which her
personality compelled from all who approached her. The Old Lady was
surprised to find that she could command it still, in defiance of
unfashionable bonnet and ancient attire.

Janet Moore and Sylvia Gray walked home from church together. "Did you
see Old Lady Lloyd out to-day?" asked Janet. "I was amazed when she
walked in. She has never been to church in my recollection. What a
quaint old figure she is! She's very rich, you know, but she wears her
mother's old clothes and never gets a new thing. Some people think
she is mean; but," concluded Janet charitably, "I believe it is simply
eccentricity."

"I felt that was Miss Lloyd as soon as I saw her, although I had never
seen her before," said Sylvia dreamily. "I have been wishing to see
her--for a certain reason. She has a very striking face. I should like
to meet her--to know her."

"I don't think it's likely you ever will," said Janet carelessly. "She
doesn't like young people and she never goes anywhere. I don't think I'd
like to know her. I'd be afraid of her--she has such stately ways and
such strange, piercing eyes."

"_I_ shouldn't be afraid of her," said Sylvia to herself, as she turned
into the Spencer lane. "But I don't expect I'll ever become acquainted
with her. If she knew who I am I suppose she would dislike me. I suppose
she never suspects that I am Leslie Gray's daughter."

The minister, thinking it well to strike while the iron was hot, went up
to call on Old Lady Lloyd the very next afternoon. He went in fear and
trembling, for he had heard things about Old Lady Lloyd; but she made
herself so agreeable in her high-bred fashion that he was delighted,
and told his wife when he went home that Spencervale people didn't
understand Miss Lloyd. This was perfectly true; but it is by no means
certain that the minister understood her either.

He made only one mistake in tact, but, as the Old Lady did not snub him