"Well," said John, doubtfully, "I don't know. Perhaps you would. But you might hold the string for me--that won't hurt your clothes, you know." "There are more greens this year," remarked Nellie, sitting down upon the end of the choir bench where John was at work and taking the ball of string in her hand. "Mr. Juxon has sent a lot from the park." "He seems to be always sending things," said John, who had no reason whatever for saying so, except that the squire had sent a hamper to the vicarage. "Did he stay long before dinner?" he added, in the tone people adopt when they hope to make children talk. "Stay long where?" asked Nellie innocently. "Oh, I thought he went into your house after we left you," answered John. "Oh no--he did not come in," said Nellie. John continued to work in silence. At some distance from where he was, Mrs. Goddard was talking to Mrs. Ambrose. He could see her graceful figure, but he could hardly distinguish her features in the gloom of the dimly-lighted church. He longed to leave Nellie and to go and speak to her, but an undefined feeling of hurt pride prevented him. He would not forgive her for having taken the vicar's arm in coming home through the park; so he stayed where he was, pricking his fingers with the holly and rather impatiently pulling the string off the ball which Nellie held. If Mrs. Goddard wanted to speak to him, she might come of her own accord, he thought, for he felt that he had behaved foolishly in asking if she wished to see his odes. Somehow, when he thought about it, the odes did not seem so good now as they had seemed that afternoon. Mrs. Goddard had not seen him at first, and for some time she remained in consultation with Mrs. Ambrose. At last she turned and looking for Nellie saw that she was seated beside John; to his great delight she came towards him. She looked more lovely than ever, he thought; the dark fur about her throat set off her delicate, sad face like a frame. "Oh--are you here, too, Mr. Short?" she said. "Hard at work, as you see," answered John. "Are you going to help, Mrs. Goddard? Won't you help me?" "I wanted to," said Nellie, appealing to her mother, "but they would not let me, so I can only hold the string." "Well, dear--we will see if we can help Mr. Short," said Mrs. Goddard good-naturedly, and she sat down upon the choir bench.