gest it. I'd better stick
where I am, and peg along as best I can."

Gwen was a great home-bird. On the few occasions in her childhood,
when she had paid visits at relations' houses, she had, after a few
days, grown so intolerably homesick, and wept so hopelessly and
inconsolably, that she had had to be packed back, rather in disgrace;
and though she was now old enough to behave herself, she had not been
asked again, nor was she very enthusiastic to receive invitations. She
felt bashful, awkward, and badly dressed under the critical eyes of
Aunt Violet or Aunt Christina, and much preferred the atmosphere of
the Parsonage, and the society of her own family. To come back every
evening from school, and spend Saturday and Sunday at home, seemed
indispensable at present, though she supposed if she went to College
later on, she would have to get used to being away.

Eastertide came, and brought welcome holidays. Gwen helped to deck the
church with daffodils, and great boughs of pink almond blossom, and
bunches of sweet-smelling wallflowers. She loved the Easter
decorations far more than those at Christmas, and this time she had
rather a free hand, for Beatrice was too busy to come, and Gwen was
allowed to do the lectern and reading desk all by herself, while
Winnie undertook the pulpit. She gave infinite pains to her work, and
Father praised the result, which was a tremendous satisfaction. To do
anything for Father was a joy. Gwen often wished she could play the
organ like Winnie, but she was not clever at music. Beatrice had made
a great effort to teach her the piano, with poor success, for she was
not a docile or attentive pupil, and the lessons generally involved a
wrangle between the two sisters, Beatrice losing her patience, and
Gwen arguing hotly. Finally Father had put a stop to the lessons
altogether, on the ground that it was sheer waste of time, and Gwen
was better employed at something else. Lesbia, however, played rather
nicely; she could manage the harmonium at the Sunday School, and was
just beginning to practise the organ under Winnie's instructions. It
was the one thing Lesbia did pretty well, for she did not distinguish
herself at school. She was not a remarkably bright girl, and was very
childish for her age. Though Gwen was fond of her younger sister, and
petted her like everybody else, the two were not in any sense
companions. Lesbia was far more on a level with the little boys, and
generally amused hers