said Mr. Prong; "it looks as though I hadn't been
thinking of you." Then he picked up the stray shell of a shrimp, and
in order that he might get rid of it, put it into his mouth. Mrs.
Prime said she hoped she didn't trouble him, and that of course she
didn't expect him to be thinking about her particularly. Then Mr.
Prong looked at her in a way that was very particular out of the
corner of his eyes, and assured her that he had been thinking of
her all night. After that Mrs. Prime sat down on a horsehair-seated
chair, and Mr. Prong sat on another opposite to her, leaning back,
with his eyes nearly closed, and his hands folded upon his lap.

"I don't think Miss Pucker's will quite do for me," said Mrs. Prime,
beginning her story first.

"I never thought it would, my friend," said Mr. Prong, with his eyes
still nearly closed.

"She's a very good woman,--an excellent woman, and her heart is full
of love and charity. But--"

"I quite understand it, my friend. She is not in all things the
companion you desire."

"I am not quite sure that I shall want any companion."

"Ah!" sighed Mr. Prong, shaking his head, but still keeping his eyes
closed.

"I think I would rather be alone, if I do not return to them at the
cottage. I would fain return if only they--"

"If only they would return too. Yes! That would be a glorious end to
the struggle you have made, if you can bring them back with you from
following after the Evil One! But you cannot return to them now, if
you are to countenance by your presence dancings and love-makings
in the open air,"--why worse in the open air than in a close
little parlour in a back street, Mr. Prong did not say,--"and loud
revellings, and the absence of all good works, and rebellion against
the Spirit." Mr. Prong was becoming energetic in his language, and at
one time had raised himself in his chair, and opened his eyes. But he
closed them at once, and again fell back. "No, my friend," said he,
"no. It must not be so. They must be rescued from the burning; but
not so,--not so." After that for a minute or two they both sat still
in silence.

"I think I shall get two small rooms for myself in one of the quiet
streets, near the new church," said she.

"Ah, yes, perhaps so,--for a time."

"Till I may be able to go back to mother. It's a sad thing families
being divided, Mr. Prong."

"Yes, it is sad;--unless it tends to the doing of the Lord's work."

"But I hope;--I do hope, that all t