the pulpit stair."

The Rector's reply delighted Betty; but she returned to the charge.
"No, no, sir, I be coming to hear ye next Sunday. Sally have turned
my black bonnet a purpose. It be one of the Lady Poynsett's, as her
gave I when my old gentleman was took two years after the Squire--
when bonnets was bonnets, you know, ma'am. Now tell me true, be ye
to preach morning or arternoon, sir?"

"In the morning, I hope, Betty."

"Then I'll be there, Master Julius, to the third seat from the
front; but it ain't becoming for a woman of my age, seventy-nine
come Christmas, to sit under a slip of a lad as hasn't got the taste
of the birch off his back."

"That's too bad, Betty," broke in Rosamond, speaking out of
conviction. "Mr. Bowater isn't so young as he looks, and he was too
good a boy ever to need the birch."

"All the wuss for he," retorted the undaunted Betty. "Spare the
rod, and spile the child."

The village wit was left triumphant, and Julius proposed to return
by a cross-road leading into the plantations. Suddenly a scud of
rain mixed with whirling yellow leaves sent them hurrying into a
cart-shed, where, with a sudden start, they found themselves rushing
in on some one. Who was it? A girl--a young lady. That was
evident, as Rosamond panted out, "I beg your pardon!" and the next
moment there was the exclamation, "Mr. Julius Charnock! You don't