e knew also of his
immediate proceedings, whereabouts, and intentions. Mrs. Ray did not
logically draw any conclusion from these premises, but she became
uncomfortably assured that there did exist a considerable intimacy
between Mr. Rowan and her daughter. And how had it come to pass that
this had been allowed to form itself without any knowledge on her
part? Miss Pucker might be odious and disagreeable;--Mrs. Ray was
inclined to think that the lady in question was very odious and
disagreeable;--but must it not be admitted that her little story
about the young man had proved itself to be true?

"I never will go to those nasty rag meetings any more."

"Oh Rachel, don't speak in that way."

"But I won't. I will never put my foot in that woman's room again.
They talk nothing but scandal all the time they are there, and speak
any ill they can of the poor young girls whom they talk about. If you
don't mind my knowing Mr. Rowan, what is it to them?"

But this was assuming a great deal. Mrs. Ray was by no means prepared
to say that she did not object to her daughter's acquaintance with
Mr. Rowan. "But I don't know anything about him, my dear. I never
heard his name before."

"No, mamma; you never did. And I know very little of him; so little
that there has been nothing to tell,--at least next to nothing. I
don't want to have any secrets from you, mamma."

"But, Rachel,--he isn't, is he--? I mean there isn't anything
particular between him and you? How was it you were walking with him
alone?"

"I wasn't walking with him alone;--at least only for a little way. He
had been out with his cousins and we had all been together, and when
they went in, of course I was obliged to come home. I couldn't help
his coming along the churchyard path with me. And what if he did,
mamma? He couldn't bite me."

"But my dear--"

"Oh mamma;--don't be afraid of me." Then she came across, and again
knelt at her mother's feet. "If you'll trust me I'll tell you
everything."

Upon hearing this assurance, Mrs. Ray of course promised Rachel that
she would trust her and expected in return to be told everything
then, at the moment. But she perceived that her daughter did not
mean to tell her anything further at that time. Rachel, when she had
received her mother's promise, embraced her warmly, caressing her and
petting her as was her custom, and then after a while she resumed her
work. Mrs. Ray was delighted to have the evil thing over, but she