The Making of a Prig

e of their importance. There was only one will, however, and that was his sister's. So the meals were always punctual, and the Rector was always late; a fact that by its very

tempt to conceal her impatience as she glanced from the old clock in the c

said querulously, in the tone of one who has not the courage or the character to

lled over lazily, and sh

r eyes. A latent spirit of revolt was in her tone, although she spoke half absently, as if h

ght," she said sharply. "I asked

s told with a great assumption of doing as she wished. Then she sat on t

is awfully bad, and it's blowing hard from the north-west. He ma

comes of your romping so much with young Morton. Of course I am a mere cipher in my own house; but some day y

working hard for daddy, so that he could live with his books and be happy, instead of grinding his life away for people who

he end of her speech, "it is difficult to believe

h because there was a family living; so how on earth could he have been chosen? Why,

Esther, who was counting her stitch

to give in. He must have been absent-minded when they ordained him,

ontent herself with laughing softly at her own joke. The meal passed almost in silence, and they had nearly finished before the

und to the stable again by mistake. What are you

elaborated her little methods of reproach for the sake of one on whom the small things in life made no impression at all. And when the Rector entered, smiling happily, with Katharine hanging on his arm and whispering eager questions into his ear, it was easy to see that his mind was occupied by something far more engr

aid, although she h

believe. Katharine, do be seated instead of romping round the room lik

il Katharine came and replaced it with a fork. "It is a windy night," he continued, as no one seemed inclined to say anything. Miss Esthe

ing wife, and Jones's baby is no b

unfortunate!" observ

," continued Miss Esther, with more emphasis. "T

ge wanted some more port wine, and Mrs. Jones came to see w

. "I was certainly detained, Esther, as y

"who have spiritual brothers and sisters depe

clergyman. It simply means having crowds of relations, dull, sordid, grasp

Miss Esther, without heedin

atharine, "do let daddy

ve finished my supper. Does Eldridge expect me

your own instincts do not prompt you to do anyt

e. He was looking like a schoolboy in disgr

st as though the cough of Jones's baby were half as importa

cteristic outburst. But the Rector had already unwrapped his treasure and placed i

murmured, as he stroked it rever

ng me you had no money for a soup kitchen. It was a poor living, you sai

said Katharine, "if it means giving up ev

de for a bit of tawdry pewter! For what you can see in a tarnishe

oked up for t

Katharine cast a wrathful look at the stern figure near the reading-lamp, and came over to h

en pulled her on to his knee, and they bent togeth

n unruffled countenance towards his sister, "what

rom the right path and-and makes you late for meals? Isn't it enough to neglect your sacred du

ulled out his watch, and consulted it with the nervous haste of

mething else, now; whatever could it have been, I wonder? It was not the spoon, Esther

ail at Walker's;' and then you gave your hat

till looking uneasily about him

the ambiguous message from Jim that the pony was ready to start again, if the R

and blankets, my dear,-anything you've got! We must bring him home at once, of c

e that followed, while the pony carriage was being filled with everything that could be of use in case of an accident, Katharine fo

rt? Mayn't I come too?" she pleaded, as

w. What is he like? Kind of tourist, I should fancy; evidently didn't see his way

with impatience. "What sort of man is he, daddy? S

ks! He had a black beard, I fancy,-quite you

althy people! I don't think I want to go

action himself and never disputed one on the part of others, threw the rug over her knees, and they drove off together to the scene of the accident. It was a wild, black night; and the Rector shivered as he bent his head to the furious gusts

Katharine recognised all the village familiars who came forward at their approach,-the doctor, who had tended her childish maladies; the schoolmaster, who had taught her to read; the churchwarden, who still loved to tell her stories that she had long ago learnt to know by heart. But she

they rested at once upon Katharine, who stood bending over

way, my child," the Re

s unhealthy at all," s