inquired Rhoda, who had made
herself extremely comfortable with a large chair and sundry cushions.

"I will tell you of three things, my dear, of which I have always felt
afraid, at the least since I came to years of discretion. And most
folks are not afraid of any of them. I am afraid of getting rich. I am
afraid of being married. And I am afraid of judging my neighbours."

"Oh!" cried Rhoda, in genuine amazement. "Why, Mrs Dolly, what _do_
you mean? As to judging one's neighbours,--well, I suppose the Bible
says something against that; but we all do it, you know."

"We do, my dear; more's the pity."

"But getting rich, and being married! Oh, Mrs Dolly! Everybody wants
those."

"No, my dear, asking your pardon," replied the old lady, in a tone of
decision unusual with her. "I trust every Christian does not want to be
rich, when the Lord hath given him so many warnings against it. And
every man does not want to marry, nor every woman neither."

"Well, not every man, perhaps," admitted Rhoda; "but every woman does,
Mrs Dolly."

"My dear, I am sorry to hear a woman say it," answered Mrs Dorothy,
with as much warmth as was consonant with her nature. "I hoped that was
a man's delusion."

"Why, Mrs Dolly! I do," said Rhoda, with great candour.

"Then I wish you more wisdom, child."

"Well, upon my word!" exclaimed Rhoda. "Didn't you, when you were
young, Mrs Dolly?"

"No, I thank God, nor when I was old neither," replied Mrs Dorothy, in
the same tone.

"But, Mrs Dolly! A maid has no station in society!" said Rhoda, using
a phrase which she had picked up from one of her grandfather's books.

"My dear, your station is where God puts you. A maid has just as good a
station as a wife; and a much pleasanter, to my thinking."

"Pleasanter!" exclaimed Rhoda. "Why, Mrs Dolly, nobody thinks anything
of an old maid, except to pity her."

"They may keep their pity to themselves," said Mrs Dorothy, with a
little laugh. "We old maids can pity them back again, and with more
reason."

"Mrs Dolly, would you have all the world hermits?"

"No, my dear; nor do I at all see why people should always leap to the
conclusion that an old maid must be an ill-tempered, lonely,
disappointed creature. Sure, there are other relatives in this world
beside husbands and children; and if she choose her own lot, what cause
hath she for disappointment? 'Tis but a few day since Mr Leighton
said, in my hearing, `Of course