't believe us grown up."

"O, Frank," said Charlie, coming in, "here's Price come up about the
puppies.--What, Rosamond, has he got hold of you? What a blessing
for me! but I pity you."

Frank and Charlie went off together; and Julius was in the act of
begging Cecil to illuminate a notice of the services, to be framed
and put into the church porch, when Raymond came in from the other
room to make up a whist-table for his mother. Rosamond gladly
responded; but there was a slight accent of contempt in Cecil's
voice, as she replied, "I never played a game at cards in my life."

"They are a great resource to my mother," said Raymond. "Anne, you
are too tired to play?--No, Julius, the pack is not there; look in
the drawer of the chiffonier."

Julius handed the list he had been jotting down to Cecil, and
followed his brother, with his hands full of cards, unconscious of
the expression of dismay, almost horror, with which Anne was gazing
after him.

"Oh! let us be resolute!" she cried, as soon as the door was shut.
"Do not let us touch the evil thing!"

"Cards?" said Cecil. "If Mrs. Poynsett cannot be amused without
them, I suppose we shall have to learn. I always heard she was such
an intellectual woman."

"But we ought to resist sin, however painful it may be," said Anne,
gathering strength; "nay, even if a minister sets the example of
defection."

"You think it wicked," said Cecil. "Oh no, it is stupid and silly,
and an absurd waste of time, but no more."

"Yes, it is," said Anne. "Cards are the bane of thousands."

"Oh yes, gambling and all that; but to play in the evening to amuse
an invalid can have no harm in it."

"An invalid and aged woman ought to have her mind set upon better
things," said Anne. "I shall not withdraw my testimony, and I hope
you will not."

"I don't know," said Cecil. "You see I am expected to attend to
Mrs. Poynsett; and I have seen whist at Dunstone when any dull old
person came there. What a troublesome crooked hand Julius writes--
just like Greek! What's all this? So many services--four on
Sunday, two every day, three on Wednesdays and Fridays! We never
had anything like this at Dunstone."

"It is very superstitious," said Anne.

"Very superfluous, I should say," amended Cecil. "I am sure my
father would consent to nothing of the kind. I shall speak to
Raymond about it."

"Yes," said Anne; "it does seem terrible that a minister should try
to make up for world