Rayner took me all over her
chicken farm. It was most interesting to me, as I had never seen
anything of the sort before. All the houses and contrivances for the
chickens, from the time they left their egg-shells, were so perfect in
every little detail, and the incubators I thought charming. A brood of
little chicks were just hatched, but I could not help expressing my
regret to Miss Rayner that they had no proper mother.

'They must miss such a lot,' I said; 'it seems such a desolate state to
be in.'

'We never miss what we have not been accustomed to,' Miss Rayner said
briskly. 'Much better have no mother than a bad one, and hens are not
better than most folks--they very often ill-treat their young.'

I saw, from the way she went about and superintended everything, that
her whole heart was with her poultry, and she was one to do all that
came to her hand both thoroughly and well. Her servants seemed devoted
to her, though I heard her scolding her outdoor man so severely that I
wondered he stood it as meekly as he did.

I soon became quite at home, and enjoyed my new life immensely. I was
left pretty much to myself in the morning, but in the afternoon Miss
Rayner would often invite me out for a long walk or drive. She rode a
great deal, and persuaded me to accompany her on a very quiet chestnut
mare.

I had taken riding lessons at school, but had not had much opportunity
of riding since, and the Forsyths never seemed to have a horse to
spare. It was a great pleasure to me now, and I could not but enjoy
Miss Rayner's society. She was a cultivated, well-read woman, and her
conversation was very different to that to which I had been accustomed.
She made me feel my own ignorance on many subjects, and I was glad to
read the books and reviews she placed in my hands.

One evening she had given me a fresh book, dealing with some of the
questions of the present day, and had said that she would like me to
study it, for the writer was a clever and rising author.

I read on for some time in silence, and then I put it down.

'Is it too deep for you?' she asked.

'No,' I replied; 'but I don't like it.'

'I am surprised. There is such a decided religious tone in it that I
thought it would just suit you.'

'It is just that tone I don't like. It represents some of the Bible
truths so unfairly.'

'In what way?'

'In speaking of God's justice----'

'Please explain,' she said, as I faltered.

'Justice is no