t last. Perhaps, however,
as she walked quickly along towards the moorland Rectory, a certain
satisfaction in showing them how little their hints had been taken,
mingled with the reluctance to admit those people who had breathed a
doubt upon the sacred name of Phil, to such a sign of intimacy.

"I have been watching you along the side of the combe, and wondering if
it was you such a threatening day," said Alice Hudson, coming to the
door to meet her. "How nice of you to come, Elinor, when you must be so
busy, and you have not been here since--I don't know how long ago!"

"No, I have not been here," said Elinor with a gravity worthy the bride
of a maligned man. "But the time is so near when I shall not be able to
come at all that I thought it was best. Mamma wishes you to come over
to-morrow, if you will, to see my things."

"Oh!" the three ladies said together; and Mrs. Hudson came forward and
gave Elinor a kiss. "My dear," she said, "I take it very kind you coming
yourself to ask us. Many would not have done it after what we felt it
our duty---- But you always had a beautiful spirit, Elinor, bearing no
malice, and I hope with all my heart that it will have its reward."

"Well, mother," said Alice, "I don't see how Elinor could do anything
less, seeing we have been such friends all our lives as girls, she and
I, and I am sure I have always been ready to give her patterns, or to
show her how a thing was done. I should have been very much disappointed
if she had not asked me to see her things."

Mary Dale, who was Mrs. Hudson's sister, said nothing at all, but
accepted the visit as in the course of nature. Mary was the one who
really knew something about Phil Compton: but she had been against the
remonstrance which Mrs. Hudson thought it her duty to make. What was the
good? Miss Dale had said; and she had refrained from telling two or
three stories about the Comptons which would have made the hair stand
upright on the heads of the Rector and the Rectoress. She did not even
now say that it was kind, but met Elinor in silence, as, in her position
as the not important member of the family, it was quite becoming for her
to do.

Then the Rector came in and took her by both hands, and gave her the
most friendly greeting. "I heard Elinor's voice, and I stopped in the
middle of my sermon," he said. "You will remark in church on Sunday a
jerky piece, which shows how I stopped to reflect whether it could be
you--and then went