ly slid down from that stern code of morals which she had been
induced to adopt by the teaching of those around her, and would have
entered upon a new school of teaching under Rachel's tutelage. But
Mrs. Prime was still there, and Rachel herself was not inclined to
fight, if fighting could be avoided. So she put the note into her
pocket, and neither answered it or spoke of it till Mrs. Prime had
started on her after-dinner walk into Baslehurst. Then she brought it
forth and read it to her mother. "I suppose I ought to answer it by
the post this evening, mamma?"

"Oh, dear, this evening! that's very short."

"It can be put off till to-morrow if there's any good in putting it
off," said Rachel. Mrs. Ray seemed to think that there might be good
in putting it off, or rather that there would be harm in doing it at
once.

"Do you particularly want to go, my dear?" Mrs. Ray said, after a
pause.

"Yes, mamma; I should like to go." Then Mrs. Ray uttered a little
sound which betokened uneasiness, and was again silent for a while.

"I can't understand why you want to go to this place,--so
particularly. You never used to care about such things. You know your
sister won't like it, and I'm not at all sure that you ought to go."

"I'll tell you why I wish it particularly, only--"

"Well, my dear."

"I don't know whether I can make you understand just what I mean."

"If you tell me, I shall understand, I suppose."

Rachel considered her words for a moment or two before she spoke, and
then she endeavoured to explain herself. "It isn't that I care for
this party especially, mamma, though I own that, after what the girls
have said, I should like to be there; but I feel--"

"You feel what, my dear?"

"It is this, mamma. Dolly and I do not agree about these things, and
I don't intend to let her manage me just in the way she thinks
right."

"Oh, Rachel!"

"Well, mamma, would you wish it? If you could tell me that you really
think it wrong to go to parties, I would give them up. Indeed it
wouldn't be very much to give up, for I don't often get the chance.
But you don't say so. You only say that I had better not go, because
Dolly doesn't like it. Now, I won't be ruled by her. Don't look at me
in that way, mamma. Is it right that I should be?"

"You have heard what she says about going away."

"I shall be very sorry if she goes, and I hope she won't; but I
can't think that her threatening you in that way ought to make any