Before he went to the lawyer's office, he had had a talk with Mrs. Dale,
which had not been pleasant; then a letter from Helen had come; and now
an anxious wrinkle showed itself under his fur cap, as he walked back to
the rectory.

He had gone over to show Mr. Dale a somewhat highly seasoned sketch in
"Bell's Life;" in the midst of their enjoyment of it, they were
interrupted by Mrs. Dale.

"I want to speak to you about Lois, brother. Ach! how this room smells of
smoke!" she said.

"Why, what has the child done now?" said Dr. Howe.

"You needn't say 'What has she done now?' as though I was always finding
fault," Mrs. Dale answered, "though I do try to do my Christian duty if
I see any one making a mistake."

"Adele," remarked the rector, with a frankness which was entirely that
of a brother, and had no bearing upon his office, "you are always ready
enough with that duty of fault-finding." Mr. Dale looked admiringly at
his brother-in-law. "Why don't you think of the duty of praise, once in
a while? Praise is a Christian grace too much neglected. Don't you think
so, Henry?"

But Mrs. Dale answered instead: "I am ready enough to praise when there
is occasion for it, but you can't expect me to praise Lois for her
behavior to young Forsythe. Arabella says the poor youth is completely
prostrated by the blow."