could not but feel that the conversation had not terminated as it
should have done.

Soon after that the hour arrived for their little feast, and Rachel
went about her work just as merrily and kindly as though there had
been no words about the young man. She went across for the cream,
and stayed gossiping for some few minutes with Mrs. Sturt. Then she
bustled about the kitchen making the tea and toasting the bread. She
had never been more anxious to make everything comfortable for her
mother, and never more eager in her coaxing way of doing honour to
the good things which she had prepared; but, through it all, her
mother was aware that everything was not right; there was something
in Rachel's voice which betrayed inward uneasiness;--something in
the vivacity of her movements that was not quite true to her usual
nature. Mrs. Ray felt that it was so, and could not therefore be
altogether at her ease. She pretended to enjoy herself;--but Rachel
knew that her joy was not real. Nothing further, however, was said,
either regarding that evening's walk into Baslehurst, or touching
that other walk as to which Miss Pucker's tale had been told. Mrs.
Ray had done as much as her courage enabled her to attempt on that
occasion.

When the tea-drinking was over, and the cups and spoons had been
tidily put away, Rachel prepared herself for her walk. She had been
very careful that nothing should be hurried,--that there should be no
apparent anxiety on her part to leave her mother quickly. And even
when all was done, she would not go without some assurance of her
mother's goodwill. "If you have any wish that I should stay, mamma, I
don't care in the least about going."

"No, my dear; I don't want you to stay at all."

"Your dress is finished."

"Thank you, my dear; you have been very good."

"I haven't been good at all; but I will be good if you'll trust me."

"I will trust you."

"At any rate you need not be afraid to-night, for I am only going to
take a walk with those three girls across the church meadows. They're
always very civil, and I don't like to turn my back upon them."

"I don't wish you to turn your back upon them."

"It's stupid not to know anybody; isn't it?"

"I dare say it is," said Mrs. Ray. Then Rachel had finished tying on
her hat, and she walked forth.

For more than two hours after that the widow sat alone, thinking of
her children. As regarded Mrs. Prime, there was at any rate no cause
for trembling,