money thus saved to church work.'

The curate cleared his throat. It was because he was flying from himself
that he had let the woman talk until this speech of his had been made
necessary; but at all times his humble friends in this town were well
nigh irrepressible in their talk. This woman was in full tide now.

'They do say, sir, there's a difference between honest saving and greed.
Mr. Higgs said to Yeander one day, says he, "Mrs. Moore's folks far back
made their money by sharp trading, and greed's in the family, and it's
the worst sort of greed, for it grasps both at 'eaven and earth, both at
this life and the 'eavenly. And," says he, "no one could doubt that the
lady's that way constituted that she couldn't cut a loaf of bread in
'alf without giving herself the largest share, even if it were the bread
of life."'

'My good Mrs. Yeander----' began the curate in stern rebuke.

'Oh, no, sir, Mr. Higgs don't mean no harm. He only gets that riled at
Mrs. Moore sometimes that he kind of lets off to Yeander and me.'

'And I don't think, Mrs. Yeander,' said the curate, for the third time,
'that Miss Violetta is at all like her mother.'

'She's young yet, sir,' said the woman. Then she went away, leaving the
curate to interpret her last remark as he chose.

CHAPTER II

About a week after that there was a fine dinner given at the vicarage to
welcome the curate into the family. The old squire was invited, but he
refused to come. Violetta's mamma wrote and asked some of her relatives
to come down from town. 'Our chosen son-in-law is not rich,' she wrote,
'but he comes of an old family, and that is a great thing. Dear Violetta
will, of course, inherit my own fortune, which will be ample for them,
and his good connections, with God's blessing, will complete their
happiness.' So they came down. There was the vicar's brother, who was a
barrister, and his wife. Then there were two sisters of Mrs. Moore, who
were both very rich. One was an old maid, and one was married to a
dean--she brought her husband. 'You see,' said Violetta's mamma to the
curate, 'our relatives are all either law or clergy.'

There were very grand preparations made for the dinner, and Mrs. Higgs,
the wife of the verger, came to the curate's rooms the day before and
took away his best clothes, that she might see they were well brushed
for the occasion. She did up his collar and wristbands herself, and
gave them a fine gloss. Higgs brought them