angled
from his black watch-ribbon--though, it must be admitted, when he
preached, and grew greatly in earnest, his mouth had a way of opening
as if it meant to swallow the church--and Laura was by no means his
sole admirer. Several of her friends had a fancy for him, especially as
his wife, who was much older than he, was a thin, elderly lady with a
tired face.

And now, by her own experience, Laura was led to the following
discovery: that, if you imagine a thing with sufficient force, you can
induce your imagining to become reality. By dint of pretending that it
was so, she gradually worked herself up into an attack of love, which
was genuine enough to make her redden when Mr. Shepherd was spoken of,
and to enjoy being teased about him. And since, at any rate when in
church, she was a sincerely religious little girl, and one to
whom--notwithstanding her protested indifference to forms of
worship--such emotional accessories as flowers, and music, and highly
coloured vestments made a strong appeal, her feelings for Mr. Shepherd
were soon mystically jumbled up with her piety: the eastward slant for
the Creed, and the Salutation at the Sacred Name, seemed not alone
homage due to the Deity, but also a kind of minor homage offered to and
accepted by Mr. Shepherd; the school-pew being so near the chancel that
it was not difficult to believe yourself the recipient of personal
notice.

At home during the winter holidays, his name chanced to cross her lips.
Straightway it occurred to Mother that he was the nephew of an old
friend whom she had long lost sight of letters passed between Warrenega
and Melbourne, and shortly after her return to the College Laura learnt
that she was to spend the coming monthly holiday at Mr. Shepherd's
house.

In the agitated frame of mind this threw her into, she did not know
whether to be glad or sorry. Her feelings had, of late, got into such a
rapt and pious muddle that it seemed a little like being asked out to
meet God. On the other hand, she could not but see that the
circumstance would raise her standing at school, immeasurably. And this
it did. As soon as the first shock had passed she communicated the fact
freely, and was shrewd enough not to relate how the invitation had come
about, allowing it to be put down, as her friends were but too ready to
do, to the effect produced on the minister by her silent adoration.

The Church girls were wild with envy. Laura was dragged up the garden