that maiden bashfulness induced her to press less closely to my side than
she had done the minute before.

"I don't understand you," Kitty answered, after a short pause, during
which she was doubtless endeavouring to comprehend what she had heard.
"Grandmother has no wish to go to town; she only wants to pass the rest of
her days, quietly, at the old place, and one church is enough
for anybody."

Had the little girl lived a few years later, she would have ascertained
that some persons require half-a-dozen.

"And you, Kitty, do you suppose your grandmother has no thought for you,
when she shall be called away herself?

"Oh! yes--I know she thinks a good deal of _that_, but I try to set her
heart at ease, poor, dear, old grandmother, for it's of no use to be
distressing herself about _me_! I can take care of myself well enough, and
have plenty of friends who will never see me want. Father's sisters say
they'll take care of _me_."

"You have one friend, Kitty, of whom you little think, just now, and he
will provide for you."

"I don't know whom you mean, sir--unless--and yet you can't suppose I
never think of God, sir?"

"I mean a friend on earth--have you no friend on earth, whom you have not
mentioned yet?"