see now. I was unpardonably stupid. I am not in
the habit of considering what people say or may think, but I can see it
would not do. I seem to be always annoying you," he concluded helplessly.

A faint smile dawned on Celia's face. "No one can help it; it is just an
awkward situation," she said, and left him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIFTH.

QUESTIONS.

"They asked one another the reason."

Although the auction was over, the air of Friendship still vibrated from
the stir. Bereft of its treasures, the Gilpin house stood an empty shell,
facing an unknown future; for beyond the statement that he was from
Baltimore, nothing was known of its purchaser.

"Why in the world should a man from Baltimore want it?" Mrs. Parton asked;
and the question was echoed on all sides. Not to live in, at all events,
it appeared, as weeks passed and it remained undisturbed.

Nor was this the only unanswered question. There was the ring. Miss Betty
said it might as well have been left in the spinet, for all the good it
did any one.

Allan had his own unanswered question; without doubt his mother had hers,
as had Celia Fair, but they gave no sign to the outside world, nor asked
any help in finding an answer.

And now came a new excitement. Dr. Pierce, the Presbyterian minister,
announced impressively one Sunday that on a week from that day his pulpit
would be occupied by his distinguished friend, Dr. Hollingsworth.

It was explained that he had been South on business relating to a bequest
to the university, and found it convenient to stop over on his way home.
Still, with several large cities within easy reach, his presence was an
undoubted compliment to the village, and Friendship began at once to
refresh its memory in regard to its expected guest.

Mrs. Molesworth came across the street to ask Mrs. Parton if she had ever
heard Dr. Hollingsworth was not orthodox.

Mrs. Parton had not, and seemed to consider it a minor matter, for she
went on to tell how pleasant he was, and how fully he appreciated the joke
of being taken for a detective by Belle.

"I trust, indeed, it is not true," said Mrs. Molesworth, going back to the
original question.

"Well, I shouldn't worry, Cornelia. He is not likely to do much harm in
one sermon," Mrs. Parton answered easily.

Mrs. Molesworth shook her head. "You can never be sure. It is not for
myself I fear, but for the boys. I have tried to protect them."

"If your boys are like mine, they won'