lfie, who was walking with
Agatha, gave one of her merry, rippling laughs.

'Isn't she an odd character? We shall have a good deal of fun out of
her, I am sure! I am thankful she did not recognise me, or at least
had the good taste not to appear as if she did.'

'I wonder,' said Agatha thoughtfully, 'if that old man who sat behind
Miss Miller was our landlord's brother.'

'Oh, he was much too nice-looking; I imagine the other Mr. Lester is an
awful old curmudgeon. He has got his property unjustly, I
consider--the eldest son ought to have it.'

'Cousin James is not an old curmudgeon,' put in Gwen, stepping back to
join in the conversation; 'supplanters and usurpers generally carry all
the world before them, "like green bay trees," as the Psalmist says. I
am sure our Jacob is most prepossessing in manner and appearance, like
his namesake. History repeats itself!'

'Don't be bitter after church,' said Agatha, in her quiet voice.

Gwen laughed. 'I'm not bitter. I feel I can snap my fingers at him
now! Hugh says he saw him in town the other day, and he said with his
pleasant smile, "When we are quite settled at Dane Hall my wife will
ask the girls down. They will be glad of the change, I expect, after
their seclusion in the country!" Wasn't it truly kind and considerate
of him?'

That first Sunday in the country was a very pleasant one to the
sisters, Clare went off for a long walk with Hugh in the afternoon;
Agatha settled herself in a wicker chair with her books in the sunny
verandah overlooking the meadows and distant pine woods; and Gwen and
Elfie wandered off across the fields, enjoying the sweet spring air,
and noting all the spring flowers peeping out of the hedgerows.

'Yes, I'm thankful we are out of town,' said Gwen emphatically,
standing up and drawing in long breaths of content and satisfaction.
'If I were starving, I would rather be in the country, because one can
be clean. It's the oppression in the atmosphere that is so sickening
in London, and never being able to get away from people!'

'This is an ideal Sunday,' said Elfie, turning her radiant face upwards
and watching a lark soaring out of sight; 'I don't think I shall miss
the concerts in town, with such music as this around one!'

Then after a pause she said, 'I suppose becoming lazy and
self-indulgent is a danger in the country.'

'We are not rich enough for that,' responded Gwen with a short laugh;
'at least, I know I have my wor