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262 as fast as we do; you know you're always lagging behind."

I knew these were false excuses, but I made no objections, and never contradicted such assertions, well knowing the motives which dictated them.

And in the afternoons, during those six memorable weeks, I never went to church at all. If I had a cold, or any slight indisposition, they took advantage of that to make me stay at home; and often they would tell me they were not going again that day, themselves, and then pretend to change their minds, and set off without telling me, so managing their departure that I never discovered the change of purpose till too late.

Upon their return home, on one of these occasions, they entertained me with an animated account of a conversation they had had with Mr. Weston as they came along.

"And he asked if you were ill, Miss Grey," said Matilda; "but we told him you were quite well, only you didn't want to come to church—so he'll think you're turned wicked."

All chance meetings on week days were likewise carefully prevented; for, lest I should go to see poor Nancy Brown or any other