alacrity, and twitching her sheet into more becoming folds. "I was just
wondering----"

But at that moment the two Vicars approached, and the elder one,
including both the spinster and the mysterious family in one glance,
spoke in a clerical yet embarrassed voice.

"Dear friends, a slight but inconvenient mistake has occurred, and I am
afraid I must ask you to submit blindly to my guidance in a matter
strangely difficult to explain, even as I--myself in much confusion--bow
to the advice of my reverend friend here. It would be out of place----"

The spinster interrupted, and, by the way she did it, one saw that she
was Chapel. "Excuse me, Canon," she said acidly, "but is not all
discussion out of place at this solemn moment?"

"Believe me, madam," replied the aged Burstley-Ripp. "You overrate the
solemnity of the moment. I must earnestly ask you all to return with me
to the places whence--labouring under an extraordinary error--we came
to-night. I see that Mrs. Parachute trusts me, and is prepared to lead
her little flock to rest again. You, madam----"

"Where Mrs. Parachute leads, far be it from me to seem behindhand," said
the other, much ruffled, as she gathered her sheet about her. By the way
she said it, one saw that she and Mrs. Parachute did not call. She bowed
to Lady Arabel, and became satirical, even arch. "Good afternoon,
Mrs.--er--, I am assured that the moment is not solemn, and therefore
solemn it shall not be. To turn to lighter subjects, I hope I shall have
the pleasure of meeting you and your delightful son and daughter again
at no distant date, the moment then being genuinely solemn. I fear I