I got so
ashamed of myself that I couldn't refuse."

Mrs. Ray still was not angry; but she was surprised, and perhaps a
little dismayed. "And did you like it?"

"Yes, mamma."

"Were they all kind to you?"

"Yes, mamma."

"You seem to have very little to say about it; but I suppose you're
tired."

"I am tired, but it isn't that. It seems that there is so much to
think about. I'll tell you everything to-morrow, when I get quiet
again. Not that there is much to tell."

"Then I'll wish you good-night, dear."

"Good-night, mamma. Mrs. Cornbury was so kind,--you can have no idea
how good-natured she is."

"She always was a good creature."

"If I'd been her sister she couldn't have done more for me. I feel
as though I were really quite fond of her. But she isn't a bit like
what I expected. She chooses to have her own way; but then she is so
good-humoured! And when I got into any little trouble she--"

"Well, what else did she do; and what trouble had you?"

"I can't quite describe what I mean. She seemed to make so much of
me;--just as she might have done if I'd been some grand young lady
down from London, or any, any;--you know what I mean."

Mrs. Ray sat with her candle in her hand, receiving great comfort
from the knowledge that her daughter had been "respectit." She knew
well what Rachel meant, and reflected, with perhaps a pardonable
pride, that she herself had "come of decent people." The Tappitts
were higher than her in the world, and so were the Griggses. But she
knew that her forbears had been gentlefolk, when there were, so to
speak, no Griggses and no Tappitts in existence. It was pleasant to
her to think that her daughter had been treated as a lady.

"And she did do me such a kindness. That horrid Mr. Griggs was going
to dance with me, and she wouldn't let him."

"I don't like that young man at all."

"Poor Cherry! you should hear her talk of him! And she would have
stayed ever so much longer if I had not pressed her to go; and then
she has such a nice way of saying things."

"She always had that, when she was quite a young girl."

"I declare I feel that I quite love her. And there was such a grand
supper. Champagne!"

"No!"

"I got some cold turkey. Mr. Rowan took me down to supper." These
last words were spoken very mildly, and Rachel, as she uttered them,
did not dare to look into her mother's face.

"Did you dance with him?"

"Yes, mamma, three times. I should have stayed later on