Page:Keeping the Peace.pdf/143

 "are you going to hold with the Evangelist who states that Mary and the child spent the winter in Egypt or with the Evangelist who maintains that they remained in Bethlehem? Or are you going to be like your mother and believe them both?"

"Sssh!" said Edward, and he whispered a warning. But not in time. There came down to them from the window above where she had been listening the terrible voice of Mrs. Eaton.

"I heard what you said, you young Jezebel," said she. "Don't ever darken my door again. Don't you dare!"

Later she forbade Edward to have anything more to do with the atheist's daughter. He promised his mother that he wouldn't, and he continued to see Alice whenever he had a chance.

Lying and hypocrisy, pretending to be altogether different from what you really are—these were the arts which Edward zealously practised in his own home in order to keep the peace with his mother. And these arts were real perversions of his nature, for he had been born into the world an honest, straightforward baby. It was only for his mother's benefit, however, that it was necessary to practise them. With all the world outside the rectory and with his father inside of it he was frank and truthful.