'Oh, that abominable chattering woman!' Jane exclaimed; 'and Betsy
Wall too, I saw her all alive about something. What a nuisance such
people are!'

'In short,' said Mr. Devereux, 'I heard an exaggerated account of all
that passed here on the subject the other day. Now, Jane, am I doing
you any injustice in thinking that it must have been through you that
this history went abroad into the village?'

'Well,' said Jane, 'I am sure you never told us that it was any
secret. When a story is openly told to half a dozen people they
cannot be expected to keep it to themselves.'

'I spoke uncharitably and incautiously,' said he, 'I am willing to
confess, but it is nevertheless my duty to set before you the great
matter that this little fire has kindled.'

'Why, it cannot have done any great harm, can it?' asked Jane, the
agitation of her voice and laugh betraying that she was not quite so
careless as she wished to appear. 'Only the sour Gage will ferment a
little.'

'Oh, Jane! I did not expect that you would treat this matter so
lightly.'

'But tell me, what harm has it done?' asked she.

'Do you consider it nothing that the poor child should remain
unbaptized, that discord should be brought into the parish, that