difference in their ages, but this seemed to have made a great
interval between one whose metier had been to be youthful and active,
and her who had to be staid and dignified.

The early dinner passed in all demureness and formality, and the poor
visitor was too much tired for any more services to be thought of for
her. Magdalen explained that when the days would be longer, she
thought of walking to Rockstone for evensong, but now the best way
was to go to the chapel at Clipstone, which was nearer than either of
the others.

"There is a lovely little chapel there, beautifully fitted up by Lord
Rotherwood and Sir Jasper Merrifield, for the hamlet," she said.

"How far?" asked Mrs. Best.

"About a mile and a half across the fields; further by the road. You
will find your bicycles available when you know the way."

"Don't we go to Rockstone?" asked Paulina. "I am sure there is a
really satisfactory church there."

"St. Kenelm's, do you mean? That is not so near as St. Andrew's
Church, but that is very satisfactory, and I go to one or other of
them on week-days. It is too late to come back on these spring
Sundays."

"I should not like to live among so many churches," said Mrs. Best,
"and so far from them all!"