oes say such terrible things to me that it
quite puts me in a heat to have to go to her. I don't think anybody
ought to say those sort of things to me except a clergyman, or a
person's parents, or a schoolmaster, or masters and mistresses,
or such like." Rachel thought so too,--thought that at any rate a
daughter should not so speak to such a mother as was her mother; but
on that subject she said nothing.

"And I don't like going to that Miss Pucker's house," continued Mrs.
Ray. "I'm sure I don't want her to come here. I wouldn't go, only I
said that I would."

"I would go now, if I were you, mamma."

"Of course I shall go; haven't I got myself ready?"

"But I would not let her go on in that way."

"That's very easy said, Rachel; but how am I to help it? I can't tell
her to hold her tongue; and if I did, she wouldn't. If I am to go I
might as well start. I suppose there's cold lamb enough for dinner?"

"Plenty, I should think."

"And if I find poultry cheap, I can bring a chicken home in my
basket, can't I?" And so saying, with her mind full of various cares,
Mrs. Ray walked off to Baslehurst.

"I wonder when he'll come." Rachel, as she said or thought these
words, stood at the open door of the cottage looking after her mother
as she made her way across the green. It was a delicious midsummer
day, warm with the heat of the morning sun, but not yet oppressed
with the full blaze of its noonday rays. The air was alive with
the notes of birds, and the flowers were in their brightest beauty.
"I wonder when he'll come." None of those doubts which so harassed
her mother troubled her mind. Other doubts there were. Could it be
possible that he would like her well enough to wish to make her his
own? Could it be that any one so bright, so prosperous in the world,
so clever, so much above herself in all worldly advantages, should
come and seek her as his wife,--take her from their little cottage
and lowly ways of life? When he had first said that he would come
to Bragg's End, she declared to herself that it would be well that
he should see in how humble a way they lived. He would not call her
Rachel after that, she said to herself; or, if he did, he should
learn from her that she knew how to rebuke a man who dared to take
advantage of the humility of her position. He had come, and he had
not called her Rachel. He had come, and taking advantage of her
momentary absence, had spoken of her behind her back as a lover
speaks,