or a belfry. And the pulpit is over the reading-desk,
and the reading-desk over the clerk, so that papa, when he preaches,
is nearly up to the ceiling. And the whole place is divided into
pews, in which the farmers hide themselves when they come to church."

"So that nobody can see whether they go to sleep or no. Oh, Mrs
Giles, you mustn't pull that down. That's what we have been putting
up all day."

"But it be in the way, miss; so that the minister can't budge in or
out o' the door."

"Never mind. Then he must stay one side or the other. That would be
too much after all our trouble!" And Miss Dale hurried across the
chancel to save some pretty arching boughs, which, in the judgment
of Mrs. Giles, encroached too much on the vestry door. "As if it
signified which side he was," she said in a whisper to Grace.

"I don't suppose they'll have anything in the church at home," said
Grace.

"Somebody will stick up a wreath or two, I daresay."

"Nobody will. There never is anybody at Hogglestock to stick up
wreaths, or do anything for the prettinesses of life. And now
there will be less done than ever. How can mamma look after the
holly-leaves in her present state? And yet she will miss them, too.
Poor mamma sees very little that is pretty; but she has not forgotten
how pleasant pretty things are."

"I wish I knew your mother, Grace."

"I think it would be impossible for any one to know mamma now,--for
any one who had not known her before. She never makes even a new
acquaintance. She seems to think that there is nothing left for her
in the world but to try and keep papa out of his misery. And she does
not succeed in that. Poor papa!"

"Is he very unhappy about this wicked accusation?"

"Yes; he is very unhappy. But, Lily, I don't know about its being
wicked."

"But you know that it is untrue."

"Of course I know that papa did not mean to take anything that was
not his own. But, you see, nobody knows where it came from; and
nobody except mamma and Jane and I understand how very absent papa
can be. I'm sure he doesn't know the least in the world how he came
by it himself, or he would tell mamma. Do you know, Lily, I think I
have been wrong to come away."

"Don't say that, dear. Remember how anxious Mrs. Crawley was that you
should come."

"But I cannot bear to be comfortable here while they are so wretched
at home. It seems such a mockery. Every time I find myself smiling at
what you say to me, I think I must