d have gone away
without saying anything, had not Mr Elsworthy himself given her a
chance.

"Miss Wodehouse has been my great help," said the shopkeeper; "she is
the nicest lady, is Miss Wodehouse, in all Carlingford. I do respect
them people; they've had their troubles, like most families, but there
aint many as can lay their finger on the skeleton as is in their
cupboard: they've kept things close, and there aint a many as knows;
but Miss Wodehouse has spoke up for me, ma'am, right and left, and
most persons as count for anything in Carlingford gets their fancy
articles out o' my shop. Mr Wentworth, ma'am, our respected clergyman,
gets all his papers of me--and partickler he is to a degree--and
likes to have 'em first thing afore they're opened out o' the parcel.
It's the way with gentlemen when they're young. Mostly people aint so
partickler later in life--not as I could tell the reason why, unless
it may be that folks gets used to most things, and stop looking for
anything new. But there aint a many young gentlemen like our
clergyman, though I say it as shouldn't," continued Mr Elsworthy, with
a little effusion, as he succeeded in finding an exact match for the
scarlet wool.

"And why shouldn't you say it, Mr Elsworthy?" said Miss Dora, a little
tartly; "you are not in any way particularly connected with my
nephew." Here she gave an angry glance at Rosa, who had drawn near to
listen, having always in her vain little heart a certain palpitation
at Mr Wentworth's name.

"I ask your pardon, ma'am; I'm clerk at St Roque's. It aint often as
we have the pleasure of seeing you there--more's the pity," said the
church official, "though I may say there aint a church as perfect, or
where the duty is performed more beautiful, in all the country; and
there never was a clergyman as had the people's good at heart like Mr
Wentworth--not in my time. It aint no matter whether you're rich or
poor, young or old, if there's a service as can be done to ever a one
in his way, our clergyman is the man to do it. Why, no further gone
than last night, ma'am, if you'll believe me, that little girl
there--"

"Yes," said Miss Dora, eagerly, looking with what was intended to be a
very stern and forbidding aspect in the little girl's face.

"She was a-coming up Grange Lane in the dark," said Mr Elsworthy--"not
as there was any need, and me keeping two boys, but she likes a run
out of an evening--when Mr Wentworth see her, and come up to he