Mary's tongue being temporarily tired, a brief silence fell over
the graveyard. The manse children did not feel like talking.
They were digesting the new and not altogether palatable ideas
Mary had suggested to them. Jerry and Carl were somewhat
startled. But, after all, what did it matter? And it wasn't
likely there was a word of truth in it. Faith, on the whole, was
pleased. Only Una was seriously upset. She felt that she would
like to get away and cry.

"Will there be any stars in my crown?" sang the Methodist choir,
beginning to practise in the Methodist church.

"_I_ want just three," said Mary, whose theological knowledge had
increased notably since her residence with Mrs. Elliott. "Just
three--setting up on my head, like a corownet, a big one in the
middle and a small one each side."

"Are there different sizes in souls?" asked Carl.

"Of course. Why, little babies must have smaller ones than big
men. Well, it's getting dark and I must scoot home. Mrs.
Elliott doesn't like me to be out after dark. Laws, when I lived
with Mrs. Wiley the dark was just the same as the daylight to me.
I didn't mind it no more'n a gray cat. Them days seem a hundred
years ago. Now, you mind what I've said and try to behave
yourselves, for you pa's sake. I'LL always back you up and
defend you--you can be dead sure of that. Mrs. Elliott says she
never saw the like of me for sticking up for my friends. I was
real sassy to Mrs. Alec Davis about you and Mrs. Elliott combed