"I wish I were," spoke Jean from before the fire, her whole expression eminently wide-awake. "Come to bed, Jeanie," laughed Helen, "and court sleep. Perhaps it will come to you if you do." Jean paused a moment by the hall table to select one from out of the mass of books and magazines collected there, and then followed Helen up the stairs. When she had reached her room she threw herself down in an easy-chair and opened her book. "You won't mind if I read for a while, will you, Nat? There is no use of thinking of going to sleep yet." Nathalie whistled very softly, at which Jean glanced swiftly up at her. "Eh, Jean? Love at first sight?" Jean blushed to the roots of her pretty hair, and there was an angry light in her eyes. "I wouldn't be a goose if I were you, Nathalie," she said scornfully. CHAPTER VII. A WALK IN THE SHRUBBERY. It was Sunday and Nan and Emily were sitting together on the vine-covered porch of the parsonage, trying to while away the long hour between church time and the midday dinner. Nan gave a prodigious yawn, and stretched herself out in the comfortable steamer chair. "Oh, dearie me," she sighed, "I wonder if it would be a crime for me to admit how bored I was in church this morning." "Well, I don't think it would be in very good taste, considering your father preached," replied Emily severely. "I can't help it if he did. I was tired, and moreover," crossly, "I am always bored." Emily raised her eyebrows. "I am afraid, Nan, your soul longs for Gregorian chants and tapering candles." "Of course it does; and acolytes, incense, and embroidered altar cloths. Yes, I admit it frankly, I should have belonged to The Church," she ended, with great emphasis. "I know, Em," she continued, after waiting a moment to observe the effect of her last words, "you will think it absurd; but, I tell you, I really envy the Lawrence girls. To think that they attend that dear, delightful Episcopal chapel, while I----" and the sentence ended with a laugh. "Why, Em, of course you won't sympathize with me, but I do think it is bad form." Emily looked really shocked. "Nan Birdsall, I am ashamed of you. What would uncle think of you?" "Well," replied Nan, with a perverse expression on her face, "I don't intend that the ministers' sons shall have it all their own way. I have just as good a right to live up to the old saying as any of them." Emily would not stay to listen to another word, and with a great air of dignity, she arose, and swept into the house. Very soon the soft tinkling of a bell told Nan that the noonday meal was ready. Old Mr. Birdsall stood at one end of the table, his hands folded on the back of the chair before him, waiting for Emily and Nan to appear. When they were come the long grace was spoken slowly and impressively, and no one watching Nan's demure face would have guessed at her outbreak of the morning.