p her temporary residence with Miss
Pucker; but Mr. Prong was inclined to think, knowing something of
Mrs. Ray's customary softness of character, that if Mrs. Prime were
firm, things would not be driven to such a pass as that. Mrs. Prime
said that she would be firm, and she looked as though she intended to
keep her word.

Mr. Prong's manner as he bade adieu to his favourite sheep was
certainly of a nature to justify that rumour to which allusion has
been made. He pressed Mrs. Prime's hand very closely, and invoked a
blessing on her head in a warm whisper. But such signs among such
people do not bear the meaning which they have in the outer world.
These people are demonstrative and unctuous,--whereas the outer world
is reticent and dry. They are perhaps too free with their love, but
the fault is better than that other fault of no love at all. Mr.
Prong was a little free with his love, but Mrs. Prime took it all in
good part, and answered him with an equal fervour. "If I can help
you, dear friend,"--and he still held her hand in his,--"come to me
always. You never can come too often."

"You can help me, and I will come, always," she said, returning
his pressure with mutual warmth. But there was no touch of earthly
affection in her pressure; and if there was any in his at its close,
there had, at any rate, been none at its commencement.

While Mrs. Prime was thus employed, Rachel and her mother became
warm upon the subject of the dress, and when the younger widow
returned home to the cottage, the elder widow was actually engaged
in Baslehurst on the purchase of trappings and vanities. Her little
hoard was opened, and some pretty piece of muslin was purchased by
aid of which, with the needful ribbons, Rachel might be made, not
fit, indeed, for Mrs. Butler Cornbury's carriage,--no such august
fitness was at all contemplated by herself,--but nice and tidy, so
that her presence need not be a disgrace. And it was pretty to see
how Mrs. Ray revelled in these little gauds for her daughter now that
the barrier of her religious awe was broken down, and that the waters
of the world had made their way in upon her. She still had a feeling
that she was being drowned, but she confessed that such drowning was
very pleasant. She almost felt that such drowning was good for her.
At any rate it had been ordered by Mr. Comfort, and if things went
astray Mr. Comfort must bear the blame. When the bright muslin was
laid out on the counter be