terest in a person, you
can't drop him all of a sudden." Then there was again silence, and
after a while Lily took up her novel. She made that effort of which
her mother had spoken, but she made it altogether in vain. "I
declare, Bell," she said, "it's the greatest rubbish I ever attempted
to read." This was specially ungrateful, because Bell had recommended
the book. "All the books have got to be so stupid! I think I'll read
_Pilgrim's Progress_ again."

"What do you say to _Robinson Crusoe_?" said Bell.

"Or _Paul and Virginia_?" said Lily. "But I believe I'll have
_Pilgrim's Progress_. I never can understand it, but I rather think
that makes it nicer."

"I hate books I can't understand," said Bell. "I like a book to be
clear as running water, so that the whole meaning may be seen at
once."

"The quick seeing of the meaning must depend a little on the reader,
must it not?" said Mrs Dale.

"The reader mustn't be a fool, of course," said Bell.

"But then so many readers are fools," said Lily. "And yet they get
something out of their reading. Mrs Crump is always poring over the
Revelations, and nearly knows them by heart. I don't think she could
interpret a single image, but she has a hazy, misty idea of the
truth. That's why she likes it,--because it's too beautiful to be
understood; and that's why I like _Pilgrim's Progress_." After which
Bell offered to get the book in question.

"No, not now," said Lily. "I'll go on with this, as you say it's so
grand. The personages are always in their tantrums, and go on as
though they were mad. Mamma, do you know where they're going for the
honeymoon?"

"No, my dear."

"He used to talk to me about going to the lakes." And then there was
another pause, during which Bell observed that her mother's face
became clouded with anxiety. "But I won't think of it any more,"
continued Lily; "I will fix my mind to something." And then she got
up from her chair. "I don't think it would have been so difficult if
I had not been ill."

"Of course it would not, my darling."

"And I'm going to be well again now, immediately. Let me see: I was
told to read Carlyle's _History of the French Revolution_, and I
think I'll begin now." It was Crosbie who had told her to read the
book, as both Bell and Mrs Dale were well aware. "But I must put it
off till I can get it down from the other house."

"Jane shall fetch it, if you really want it," said Mrs Dale.

"Bell shall get it, when she g