of game and fish, and on the floor was a
bear-skin, which was one of the rector's trophies.

Lois stood by a side-table which held a great pan of hot water; she had
a long-handled mop in her hand and a soft towel over her arm, and she
washed and wiped some wine-glasses with slender twisted stems and
sparkling bowls, and then put them on their shelves in the corner closet,
where they gleamed and glittered in the sunshine, pouring through the
open window.

She did not work as fast now, for things were nearly in order, and she
dreaded having nothing to do; her aunt, Mrs. Dale, would have said she
was dawdling, but Miss Deborah Woodhouse, who had come over to the
rectory early to see if she could be of use, said haste was not genteel,
and it was a pleasure to see a young person who was deliberate in her
movements.

"But you must let me help you, my dear," she added, taking off her
gloves, and pulling the fingers straight and smooth.

"Indeed, Miss Deborah, there is nothing more to do," Lois answered,
smiling, as she closed the brass-hinged doors of the corner closet.

"Dear me!" said the other absently, "I do trust dear Gifford's
china-closet will be kept in proper order. Your shelves do credit to
Jean's housekeeping; indeed they do! And I hope he'll have a maid who
knows how to put the lavender among the linen; there's always a right and
a wrong way. I have written out directions for her, of course, but if
there was time I would write and ask Helen to see to it."

"Why, Giff says he won't get off for a fortnight," Lois said, with
sudden surprise.

"I thought so," responded Miss Deborah, shaking her head, so that the
little gray curls just above her ears trembled,--"I thought so, too; but
last night he said he was going at once. At least," stopping to correct
herself, "dear Ruth and I think it best for him to go. I have everything
ready for him, so no doubt he'll get off to-morrow."

Lois was silent.

"The fact is," said Miss Deborah, lowering her voice, "Gifford does not
seem perfectly happy. Of course you wouldn't be apt to observe it; but
those things don't escape my eyes. He's been depressed for some time."

"I hadn't noticed it," said Lois faintly.

"Oh, no, certainly not," answered Miss Deborah; "it would be scarcely
proper that you should, considering the reason: but it's no surprise to
me. I always thought that when they grew old enough, dear Giff and Helen
would care for one another; and so I don't won