m?"

"I didn't speak to him," said Maggie.

"Of course he's only been here a little time. He's Mr. Warlock's only
son. He's lived for years abroad and then the other day his aunt died
and left him some money so he came home. His father simply adores him.
They say--but of course I don't know. Don't quote me--that he's been
most awfully wild. Drink, all sorts of things. But of course they'll
say anything of anybody. I think he's got such an interesting face,
don't you?"

"I don't think," said Maggie, "that you ought to say those things of
any one if you don't know they're true."

"Oh! what a darling you are!" said Miss Smith. "You're perfectly
right--one oughtn't. But every one does. When you've lived up here a
little while you will too. And what does it matter? You're sure to hear
it sooner or later. But that's right. You keep me straight. I know I
talk far too much. I'm always being told about it. But what can one do?
Life's so funny--one must talk about it. You haven't seen Miss Avies
and Mr. Thurston yet, have you?"

"No," said Maggie. "Not unless I saw them in Chapel this morning."

"Ah! they're the ones," said Miss Smith. "No, they weren't there
to-day. They're away on a mission. They make things hum. They quarrel
with Mr. Warlock because they say he isn't noisy enough. Mr. Thurston's
awful and Miss Avies isn't much better. You'll have them on to you soon
enough. But of course I'm not one of the Inside Ones."

"Inside Ones?" asked Maggie.

"Yes, the real ones. They'll be at you after a time and ask you if
you'll join them. The congregation this morning was just anybody who
likes to come. But the real brethren have to swear vows and be baptized
and all sorts of things. But that's only if you believe God's really
coming in a year or two. Of course I don't, although sometimes it makes
one quite creepy--all down one's spine. In case, after all, He really
should come, you know."

"Are my aunts inside?" asked Maggie.

"Of course they are. Miss Anne Cardinal's one of the chief of them.
Miss Avies is jealous as anything of her, but your aunt's so quiet that
Miss Avies can't do anything. I just love your aunts. I think they're
sweet. You will be a friend of mine, won't you? I like you so much. I
like your being quiet and telling me when I talk too much. I sound
silly, I know, but it's really mother's fault, as I always tell her.
She never brought me up at all. She likes me to wear pretty things and
doesn't care