"It's rather swagger there, you know." Mr. Garratt thought this would be a pleasing remark. "It's very quiet," Mr. Vincent said, haughtily. "Did you go anywhere, father?" Mrs. Vincent asked. "Yes; we went to Westminster Abbey." "Magnificent building, Westminster Abbey," Mr. Garratt put in. "What did you think of it, Miss Vincent?" "I don't think I could say just yet," Margaret answered; "it was only yesterday that I saw it." "Quite right; it doesn't do to make up one's mind too soon," Mr. Garratt remarked, cheerily, at which Hannah looked up a little sharply. "For my part," she said, "I like people to know at once what they think, and what they mean." "Well, you see," he answered, looking back at her, "it isn't difficult sometimes." Whereupon the color came to her face and amiability to her expression. "What else did you see in London, Miss Vincent?" he turned to Margaret again. Something prompted Mr. Vincent to answer for her, and with extreme gravity: "We went to the theatre." "I'm sorry to hear it," Hannah said. "And how did you like it?" Mr. Garratt asked Margaret, as if he had not heard Hannah's remark. "It was wonderful," she answered. "I long to go again." "It's a place of iniquity," Hannah said, firmly. Mr. Vincent looked across at her. A sharp answer rose to his lips, but he remembered that the Petersfield young man was a suitor, and had been long expected. Before he could speak Margaret struck in, quickly: "It was one of Shakespeare's plays that we saw." "I have read a good many of them," Hannah remarked, not in the least pacified. "Then, of course, you are aware, Miss Barton, that they are mostly historical," Mr. Garratt said, in a conciliatory voice, "and it may be said that to read him, or even to see him acted, makes us familiar with historical knowledge;" a sentence at which Mr. Vincent gave a little snort, but said nothing. Hannah was delighted at the prospect of an argument. "History may teach us some lessons, Mr. Garratt," she said, "but we can read them, just as we can read other lessons. There is no occasion to do more; and as for play-acting teaching us history, once people have taken to their graves they might be left to lie in them and not be brought out and used as puppets that dance to man's imagination." Mr. Vincent looked up; he was becoming interested. "Moreover," continued Hannah, "it's making a mock of God, for only He can bring the dead to life." "What you say is very true, Miss Barton," Mr. Garratt answered, sending another furtive look at Margaret, "and I never think myself that Shakespeare is as interesting as a good modern piece." "Do you go to the theatre then, Mr. Garratt?" she asked, quickly putting down the teapot, but still keeping her hand on its handle.