n the middle of their labours;
but, as Mrs. Prime could not do this because of the distance, she
remained with Miss Pucker, paying for such refreshment as she needed.
In this way there came to be a great friendship between Mrs. Prime
and Miss Pucker;--or rather, perhaps, Mrs. Prime thus obtained the
services of a most obedient minister. Rachel had on various occasions
gone with her sister to the Dorcas meetings, and once or twice had
remained at Miss Pucker's house, drinking tea there. But this she
greatly disliked. She was aware, when she did so, that her sister
paid for her, and she thought that Dorothea showed by her behaviour
that she was mistress of the entertainment. And then Rachel greatly
disliked Miss Pucker. She disliked that lady's squint, she disliked
the tone of her voice, she disliked her subservience to Mrs. Prime,
and she especially disliked the vehemence of her objection to--young
men. When Rachel had last left Miss Pucker's room she had resolved
that she would never again drink tea there. She had not said to
herself positively that she would attend no more of the Dorcas
meetings;--but as regarded their summer arrangement this resolve
against the tea-drinking amounted almost to the same thing.

It was on this account, I protest, and by no means on account of
that young man from the brewery, that Rachel had with determination
opposed her sister's request on this special Saturday. And the
refusal had been made in an unaccustomed manner, owing to the request
also having been pressed with unusual vigour.

"Rachel, I particularly wish it, and I think that you ought to come,"
Dorothea had said.

"I had rather not come, Dolly."

"That means," continued Mrs. Prime, "that you prefer your pleasure to
your duty;--that you boldly declare yourself determined to neglect
that which you know you ought to do."

"I don't know any such thing," said Rachel.

"If you think of it you will know it," said Mrs. Prime.

"At any rate I don't mean to go to Miss Pucker's this
afternoon."--Then Rachel left the room.

It was immediately after this conversation that Mrs. Prime uttered to
Mrs. Ray that terrible hint about the young man; and at the same time
uttered another hint by which she strove to impress upon her mother
that Rachel ought to be kept in subordination,--in fact, that the
power should not belong to Rachel of choosing whether she would or
would not go to Dorcas meetings. In all such matters, according to
Doro