long coat when he went out in
the parish, but at home there can be no doubt that he liked to be at his
ease. He was a man who was too easy in general, and might, perhaps, if
his wife had not scented harm from the beginning, have compromised
himself by calling at the Elms.

"Oh, please!" cried Minnie, with a blush. "Mrs. Wilberforce will tell
you. We really have not time to stay any longer. Not any tea, thank you.
We must be running away."

"There is nothing to be so sensitive about," said the clergyman's wife.
"Of course Herbert knows that you must know: you are not babies. It is
Lizzie Hampson, the dressmaker, who has been asked to go and work at the
Elms."

"Oh!" said the rector. He showed himself wonderfully reasonable,--more
reasonable than any one could have expected. "I wouldn't let her go
there if I was you. It's not a fit place for a girl."

"We are perfectly well aware of that," said Mrs. Wilberforce. "I warned
you from the beginning. But the thing is, who is to prevent her from
going? Minnie has told her plainly, it appears, and I will speak to
her, and as her clergyman I should say it was your duty to say a
word; but whether we shall succeed, that is a different matter. These
creatures seem to have a sort of real attraction for everything that is
wrong."

"We all have that, I'm afraid, my dear."

"But not all in that way. There may be a bias, but it doesn't take
the same form. Do sit down, girls, and take your tea, like reasonable
creatures. She shall never enter the rectory, of course, if--and if
you are sure Mrs. Warrender will do the same. But you know she is very
indulgent,--more indulgent than I should be in her place. There was that
story, you know, about Fanny, the laundry-maid. I don't think we shall
do much if your dear mother relents, and says the girl is penitent as
soon as she cries. She ought to know girls better than that. A little
thing makes them cry: but penitence,--that is getting rarer and rarer
every day."

"There would be no need for penitence in this case. The girl is a very
respectable girl. Don't let her go there, that's all: and give me a cup
of tea."

"Isn't that like a man!" said Mrs. Wilberforce. "Don't let her go there,
and give him a cup of tea!--the one just as easy as the other. I am
sure I tell you often enough, Herbert, what with all that is done for
them and said about them, the poor people are getting more and more
unmanageable every day."

"Our family has alwa