"I wished to see you, Rachel," began Mrs. Layton, who was very hot, "but you hurried away from church so quickly that I had not the opportunity, and so I followed you on here." "Pray be seated, Mrs. Layton," said Mr. Temple, courteously. "James," this was to the footman, "place a chair for Mrs. Layton." "I must say I feel rather tired," continued Mrs. Layton, "and shall be glad of a glass of wine. Thanks, Mr. Temple, I know your good wine of old, and I hope you will excuse me when I tell you that I have taken the liberty of asking the vicar to follow me here. I wished to see you, Rachel, on a little business that I could not defer." "I dare say it would have waited," answered Mrs. Temple, coolly. She was annoyed at her mother's appearance, and she did not care to hide this, nor did she extend any warm welcome to her father when the good vicar came shambling in. "Your mother said you had kindly invited us, my dear," explained the vicar. "I am sorry I am late, but there were several things I had to see about before I could leave the vestry." "Oh, it is all right," said Mrs. Temple. At this moment she felt sorry for her poor down-trodden father. She heaped good things on his plate, and ordered some of his favorite old port to be placed on the table. She took very little notice of her mother; she had in truth an immense contempt for the scheming, untruthful little woman who had given her birth. Mrs. Layton still felt angry, but her anger did not interfere with her appetite. She ate and drank to her heart's content, and then she began talking to John Temple. "So you were at church this morning, Mr. John?" she said. "Well, it's a poor place, and needs a great deal of alteration, but all these things cost money." The squire turned a deaf ear to his mother-in-law's remark, but John answered courteously: "I thought it all seemed very nice," he answered. "Of course, you can not expect everything in an old-fashioned country church." "Yes, old-fashioned, that is the word," echoed Mrs. Layton, eagerly. "Look at those galleries! Did you ever see such things? They should come down, but as I said before it all costs money, and people won't give it, and the vicar won't rouse himself." The vicar looked mildly up from his plate at this remark, and that was all. "And talking of the galleries," went on Mrs. Layton, speaking with great rapidity, "did you notice that absurd hat that Margaret Churchill wore this morning? Absolutely preposterous! I suppose that is what you call a picture hat?" she added, looking at her daughter. "I thought it seemed a very elegant affair!" scoffed Mrs. Temple. "What did you think of it, my nephew John?" "Don't be shocked at my bad taste when I confess I never noticed it," replied John Temple, smiling. "You only saw the face beneath?" questioned Mrs. Temple. John made a sarcastic bow. "Now you compliment my good taste," he said.