ject. She was beginning this
morning, when I met her out, but I always flee from her when she is in
her aggressive moods.'

'What did she say?'

Clare looked at her younger sister with a little smile.

'Perhaps I had better not tell you. She saw you cut a rose off the
other afternoon and offer it to Mr. Alick, and she considers that the
depth of iniquity. "Such a piece of audacious flirting I have rarely
seen carried on within a few yards from an open road in full view of
any passer-by!" And then she turned the tables on me, and I came off,
because she was making me boil with indignation. I think she delights
in making her fellow-creatures as uncomfortable as possible.'

'It is only her way,' put in Agatha; 'she does not realize what a sting
her words have. She told me last Sunday, when I unfortunately gave an
order to some of my Sunday class in front of her, that however much I
might try to slight her and usurp her place in the vicarage and parish
I would not be successful, for the vicar was proof against all young
ladies' blandishments!'

'She ought to be horsewhipped!' cried Elfie hotly, and then she began
to laugh.

'There is one that is a match for her in the parish, and that is Deb
Howitt. She was covering a chair at the vicarage, and Miss Miller was
abusing some of the congregation--I forget who it was now. It was
about the behaviour of some girls--I think she is always specially hard
on them--and Deb looked at her very quietly. "Ay, ma'am, we mustn't
grudge them their sweethearts! 'Tis better for most to have the cares
of a family to soften them, for 'tis the spinsters that have the name
for getting hard and bitter. Sharp tongues are not so frequent amongst
mothers, and the world would be better without bitterness, I reckon!"
Miss Miller shut up at once.'

'Deb asked me yesterday when Gwen was coming back. What do you think,
Agatha?' said Clare.

'I don't know at all. You know what her last letter said. That Walter
had sold his farm and gone off with Mr. Montmorency, and she was
staying with Mrs. Montmorency in Loreto. She did not seem in a hurry
to leave, and as long as she is happy we must be content that she
should be out there.'

And the autumn came and went, and winter set in without any word or
sign from Gwen of home-coming.

Alick and Roger spent the autumn in Scotland, but Christmas found them
both at the Hall. Major Lester seemed to have overcome his dislike to
his nephew,