to hear.

But Mrs. Ray was so full of her tale, was so conscious of the fact
that her tidings were entitled to the immediate and undivided
attention of her daughter, and from their first greeting on the
gravel path was so ready with her words, that Rachel, with all the
story of her happiness, was for a while obliterated.

"Oh, my dear," said Mrs. Ray, "I have such news for you!"

"So have I, mamma, news for you," said Rachel, putting out her hand
to her mother.

"I never was so warm in my life. Do let me get in; oh dear, oh
dear! It's no good looking in the basket, for when I came away from
Dorothea I was too full of what I had just heard to think of buying
anything."

"What have you heard, mamma?"

"I'm sure I hope she'll be happy; I'm sure I do. But it's a great
venture, a terribly great venture."

"What is it, mamma?" And Rachel, though she could not yet think that
her mother's budget could be equal in importance to her own, felt
that there was that which it was necessary that she should hear.

"Your sister is going to be married to Mr. Prong."

"Dolly?"

"Yes, my dear. It's a great venture; but if any woman can live
happy with such a man, she can do so. She's troubled about her
money;--that's all."

"Marry Mr. Prong! I suppose she may if she likes. Oh dear! I can't
think I shall ever like him."

"I never spoke to him yet, so perhaps I oughtn't to say; but he
doesn't look a nice man to my eyes. But what are looks, my dear?
They're only skin deep; we ought all of us to remember that always,
Rachel; they're only skin deep; and if, as she says, she only wants
to work in the vineyard, she won't mind his being so short. I dare
say he's honest;--at least I'm sure I hope he is."

"I should think he's honest, at any rate, or he wouldn't be what he
is."

"There's some of them are so very fond of money;--that is, if all
that we hear is true. Perhaps he mayn't care about it; let us hope
that he doesn't; but if so he's a great exception. However, she means
to have it tied up as close as possible, and I think she's right.
Where would she be if he was to go away some fine morning and leave
her? You see, he's got nobody belonging to him. I own I do like
people who have got people belonging to them; you feel sure, in a
sort of way, that they'll go on living in their own houses."

Rachel immediately reflected that Luke Rowan had people belonging to
him,--very nice people,--and that everybody knew who he was and f