g evangelical clergyman is generally in
want of an income.

"Mr. O'Callaghan!" shouted Miss Todd, throwing up her head with
scorn. "Pho! The gentleman I speak of would have made me a lady.
Lady--! Now who do you think it was, Miss Baker?"

"Oh, I couldn't guess at all," said poor Miss Baker. But she now knew
that it was Sir Lionel. It might have been worse, however, and that
she felt--much worse!

"Was it Sir Lionel Bertram?" asked the other.

"Ah! Miss Gauntlet, you know all about the gentlemen of Littlebath. I
can see that. It was Sir Lionel. Wasn't that a triumph?"

"And you refused him?" asked Miss Penelope.

"Of course I did. You don't mean to say that you think I would have
accepted him?"

To this Miss Penelope made no answer. Her opinions were of a mixed
sort. She partly misbelieved Miss Todd--partly wondered at her.
Unmarried ladies of a certain age, whatever may be their own feelings
in regard to matrimony on their own behalf, seem always impressed
with a conviction that other ladies in the same condition would
certainly marry if they got an opportunity. Miss Penelope could not
believe that Miss Todd had rejected Sir Lionel; but at the same
time she could not but be startled also by the great fact of such a
rejection. At any rate her course of duty was open. Littlebath should
be enlightened on the subject before the drawing-room candles were
lit that evening; or at any rate that set in Littlebath to which she
belonged. So she rose from her chair, and, declaring that she had sat
an unconscionable time with Miss Baker, departed, diligent, about her
work.

"Well, what do you think of that, my dear?" said Miss Todd, as soon
as the two of them were left alone.

It was strange that Miss Todd, who was ordinarily so good-natured,
who was so especially intent on being good-natured to Miss Baker,
should have thus roughly communicated to her friend tidings which
were sure to wound. But she had omitted to look at it in this light.
Her intention had been to punish Sir Lionel for having been so
grossly false and grossly foolish. She had seen through him--at
least, hardly through him; had seen at least that he must have been
doubting between the two ladies, and that he had given up the one
whom he believed to be the poorer. She did not imagine it possible
that, after having offered to her, he should then go with a similar
offer to Miss Baker. Had such an idea arisen in her mind, she would
certainly have allowed M