"Thank Heaven!" said the rector devoutly.

"But it is a mistake, all the same," Gifford went on; "it is
unbusiness-like, to say nothing of being bad for his people to have the
burden of support lifted from them; it pauperizes them spiritually."

After the relief of this outburst against John Ward, Dr. Howe felt the
inevitable irritation at his hearers. "Well, I only mention this," he
said, "because, since he is so strange, it won't do, Gifford, for you to
abet Helen in this ridiculous skepticism of hers. If Ward agreed with
her, it would be all right, but so long as he does not, it will make
trouble between them, and a woman cannot quarrel with an obstinate and
bigoted man with impunity. And you have no business to have doubts
yourself, sir."

The two sisters were much impressed with what the rector said. "I must
really caution Giff," said Miss Deborah to Lois, "not to encourage dear
Helen in thinking about things; it's very unfeminine to think, and
Gifford is so clever, he doesn't stop to remember she's but a woman. And
he is greatly attached to her; dear me, he has never forgotten what might
have been,"--this in almost a whisper.

Both the sisters talked of Dr. Howe's anger as they went home.

"He's right," said Miss Deborah, who had dropped her nephew's arm, so
that she might be more cautious about the mud, and who lifted her skirt
on each side, as though she was about to make a curtsy,--"he's right: a
woman ought to think just as her husband does; it is quite wrong in dear
Helen not to, and it will bring unhappiness. Indeed, it is a lesson to