ablutions, remembering
with a slight pang how his wife always had a basin and towel ready for
him in the kitchen. In the breaking up of just such homely customs, he
was continually reminded of his loss.

On awakening to the light of this Sabbath morning, Mrs. Mumpson had
thought deeply and reasoned everything out again. She felt that it
must be an eventful day and that there was much to be accomplished. In
the first place there was Mrs. Wiggins. She disapproved of her
decidedly. "She isn't the sort of person that I would prefer to
superintend," she remarked to Jane while making a toilet which she
deemed befitting the day, "and the hour will assuredly come when Mr.
Holcroft will look upon her in the light that I do. He will eventually
realize that I cannot be brought in such close relationship with a
pauper. Not that the relationship is exactly close, but then I shall
have to speak to her--in brief, to superintend her. My eyes will be
offended by her vast proportions and uncouth appearance. The floor
creaks beneath her tread and affects my nerves seriously. Of course,
while she is here, I shall zealously, as befits one in my responserble
position, try to render useful such service as she can perform. But
then, the fact that I disapprove of her must soon become evident. When
it is discovered that I only tolerate her, there will be a change. I
cannot show my disapproval very strongly today for this is a day set
apart for sacred things, and Mrs. Viggins, as she called herself,--I
cannot imagine a Mr. Viggins for no man in his senses could have
married such a creature,--as I was saying, Mrs. Viggins is not at all
sacred, and I must endeavor to abstract my mind from her till tomorrow,
as far as posserble. My first duty today is to induce Mr. Holcroft to
take us to church. It will give the people of Oakville such a pleasing
impression to see us driving to church. Of course, I may fail, Mr.
Holcroft is evidently a hardened man. All the influences of his life
have been adverse to spiritual development, and it may require some
weeks of my influence to soften him and awaken yearnings for what he
has not yet known."

"He may be yearnin' for breakfast," Jane remarked, completing her
toilet by tying her little pigtail braid with something that had once
been a bit of black ribbon, but was now a string. "You'd better come
down soon and help."

"If Mrs. Viggins cannot get breakfast, I would like to know what she is
he