the edification of village hearers! Her complacency vented itself in a
long postscript to the letter already written to her mother, a
postscript of such characteristic nature as delighted that appreciative
lady, and which was read aloud with much unction to her husband, and a
friend of the family who happened to be paying a call at the time,
whereby, as will be seen, certain things came to pass which would not
otherwise have happened.

The prospect of Mrs Rollo's reception was so dazzling as to throw all
other experiences into the shade; but the two intervening days were full
of excitement, for Peggy was delighted to play "country cousin" for her
friend's benefit, and the two girls drove about from one place of
interest to another, from early morning until late at night.
Westminster Abbey had, of course, special claims on the affections, and
evoked that thrill of mingled awe and patriotism which all true-born
Britons must feel on entering that glorious edifice. When the voices of
the choristers rang out in the psalms for the morning, Mellicent shed
tears on her Prayer-book, and felt icy-cold all the way down her spine,
and Peggy's eyes flashed fire, and the rare colour burned in her cheeks.

When the service was over the two girls wandered about together gazing
at the monuments, reading the inscriptions which recalled noble deeds,
and exchanging ardent confidences the while.

"I should like to come here every day," said Mellicent softly, "every
single day. I should like to be a verger, and spend my life in an
abbey. I think I could be awfully good if I lived here always. It
makes one feel so small and insignificant, that one wouldn't dare to be
selfish, and think one's own happiness so important. I can't believe
that it was ever built by men--ordinary common working men. It seems
like a mountain--a great, wonderful thing that God must have made
Himself, and given to His people."

Peggy looked at her with bright, astonished eyes.

"You dear thing, what a sweet idea! I feel the same about it; but
perhaps, after all, it was better that men _should_ have made it. It
must have done _them_ good. One cannot imagine that a workman in such a
task could remain `common.' I have read charming stories about men who
have devoted their whole lives to little pieces of carving or ironwork,
to be placed in insignificant corners of old Continental cathedrals. It
did not trouble them that their work would not be seen; they