morning, that, in the midst of her lesson, carried off the chief of
her scholars to practise their chants. Moreover, the blame of all
imperfect lessons was laid on the "singing for the parson," and all
faults in the singing by the tasks for Miss Rachel; and one night,
the excellent Zack excused his failure in geography by saying that
Mr. Touchett had thrown away his book, and said that it was no better
than sacrilege, omitting, however, to mention that he had been caught
studying it under his surplice during the lessons.

At last, with his usual fatality, the curate fixed the grand practice
for the Saturday evenings that were Rachel's great days for
instruction in the three R's, and for a sort of popular lecture.
Cricket was to succeed the singing, and novelty carried the day, but
only by the desertion of her scholars did Rachel learn the new
arrangement, and she could hardly credit the assertion that the
curate was not aware that it was her day. In fact, it was the only
one when the fisher lads were sure not to be at sea, and neither
party would yield it. Mr. Touchett was determined not to truckle to
dictation from the great house; so when Rachel declared she would
have nothing to do with the boys unless the Saturdays were conceded
to her, he owned that he thought the clergyman had the first right to
his lads, and had only not claimed them before out of deference for
the feelings of a well-meaning parishioner.

Both parties poured out their grievances to the same auditor, for
Mr. Touchett regarded Ermine Williams as partly clerical, and Rachel
could never be easy without her sympathy. To hear was not, however,
to make peace, while each side was so sore, so conscious of the
merits of its own case, so blind to those of the other. One deemed
praise in its highest form the prime object of his ministry; the