o you think I ought to play nothing but hymns on it?'

He laughed. 'No, I do not; and if I did, you ought not to take my
words as a leading to you. For myself, I believe that music is a gift
entrusted to us by our Father, and if we give innocent pleasure to
others by our talent we are not using it in vain. Only I think you
were wise in keeping clear of the tableaux. If you mingle in one
thing, you must in another, and a Christian has to walk very carefully
if he wishes to preserve unbroken communion with his God.'

He said no more, and left me. As I came into our morning room a little
time after, I heard Miss Willoughby's animated voice,--

'I should like to clear them both out of the house. He is the least
objectionable, as he can be entertaining when he chooses, but I can't
imagine why she should take up her abode here. It is not a question of
charity.' Here she noticed my entrance, but calmly went on talking to
Constance as if I were not there. 'Let her take herself off to some
nursing Sisterhood or slum work in the East of London. I hate a
half-and-half kind of person. If they are too good to live our life
and mingle in our society, let them take up a religious vocation,
instead of being a perpetual source of annoyance and aggravation to
those they are with.'

Constance gave a slight laugh, then changed the conversation. I put my
flowers in water, then left the room without a word. I found Kenneth's
words very true. Miss Willoughby could not forgive me, and I was
constantly reminded of her dislike to my presence. Constance sided
with her; she had never liked me, and Nelly, though now and then warm
in my defence, seemed to be a little afraid of disagreeing with her,
and rather kept out of my way when her cousin was near. It was trying
to bear and her words now set me thinking, as I had sometimes thought
before. Should I be wiser to leave the Forsyths, and go into work of
some sort that would be more congenial? If my presence in the house
was a trial to them, why should I not relieve them of it? And yet at
present I hardly saw the way plain before me. 'Dwell deep,' I said to
myself. 'Miss Willoughby will not be here always, and I have had the
cheer of Miss Graham. I have much to be thankful for.'

It was indeed a comfort to me to be able to talk over things with Miss
Graham. We began having a little Bible reading and prayer together at
night, and it refreshed and strengthened us both. She s