'Here is Cousin Robert coming down the lane,' said Ada, who had
chosen her cotton, and was gazing from the door. Jane gave a violent
start, took a hurried leave of Mrs. Appleton, and set out towards
home; she could not avoid meeting her cousin.

'Oh, Jenny! have you been enjoying a gossip with your great ally?'
said he.

'We have only been buying pink cotton,' said Ada, whose conscience
was clear.

'Ah!' said Mr. Devereux, 'Beechcroft affairs would soon stand still,
without those useful people, Mrs. Appleton, Miss Wall, and Miss Jane
Mohun,' and he passed on. Jane felt her face colouring, his freedom
from suspicion made her feel very guilty, but the matter soon passed
out of her mind.

Blithe Whit-Sunday came, the five Miss Mohuns appeared in white
frocks, new bonnets were plenty, the white tippets of the children,
and the bright shawls of the mothers, made the village look gay; Wat
Greenwood stuck a pink between his lips, and the green boughs of
hazel and birch decked the dark oak carvings in the church.

And Whit-Monday came. At half-past ten the rude music of the band of
the Friendly Society came pealing from the top of the hill, then
appeared two tall flags, crowned with guelder roses and peonies, then
the great blue drum, the clarionet blown by red-waist-coated and red-
faced Mr. Appleton, the three flutes and the triangle, all at their
loudest, causing some of the spectators to start, and others to