a one as Mrs. Tappitt. It was needful that on this
occasion she should act with Mrs. Tappitt and connect herself
with the Tappitt interests; but all this she did with an air that
distinctly claimed for herself a personal superiority. If Mrs.
Tappitt did not perceive and understand this, it was her fault, and
not Mrs. Rowan's.

At two o'clock they stepped into a fly at the brewery door and had
themselves driven out to Bragg's End.

"Mamma, there's a carriage," said Rachel.

"It can't be coming here," said Mrs. Ray.

"But it is; it's the fly from the Dragon. I know it by the man's
white hat. And, oh dear, there's Mrs. Rowan and Mrs. Tappitt! Mamma,
I shall go away." And Rachel, without another word, escaped out into
the garden. She escaped, utterly heedless of her mother's little weak
prayer that she would remain. She went away quickly, so that not a
skirt of her dress might be visible. She felt instantly, by instinct,
that these two women had come out there especially as her enemies,
as upsetters of her happiness, as opponents of her one great hope in
life; and she knew that she could not fight her battle with them face
to face. She could not herself maintain her love stoutly and declare
her intention of keeping her lover to his word; and yet she did
intend to maintain her love, not doubting that he would be true to
his word without any effort on her part. Her mother would make a
very poor fight,--of that she was quite well aware. It would have
been well if her mother could have run away also. But, as that could
not be, her mother must be left to succumb, and the fight must be
carried on afterwards as best it might. The two ladies remained
at the cottage for about an hour, and during that time Rachel was
sequestered in the garden, hardening her heart against all enemies to
her love. If Luke would only stand by her, she would certainly stand
by him.

There was a good deal of ceremony between the three ladies when they
first found themselves together in Mrs. Ray's parlour. Mrs. Rowan
and Mrs. Tappitt were large and stiff in their draperies, and did
not fit themselves easily in among Mrs. Ray's small belongings;
and they were stately in their demeanour, conscious that they were
visiting an inferior, and conscious also that they were there on no
friendly mission. But the interview was commenced with a show of much
civility. Mrs. Tappitt introduced Mrs. Rowan in due form, and Mrs.
Rowan made her little bow, if with som