The words brought tears of feeling into the eyes of some; but Jane Mohun could not help observing, “Ah! I was afraid you were going to hold up to us the example of the ants and bees, where the old maids do all the working and fighting and governing! Don’t make Gillian regret that she is falling away from the spinsterhood.” “Come, Aunt Jane, Bessie never did make it the praise of spinsters. I am sure married women can do as much as spinsters, and have more weight,” said Gillian, facing round gallantly, and winning the approval of her aunt and of Bessie. There was no doubt but that since her engagement she had been much quieter and less opinionative. With what different sensations the same occasion may be attended! To Bessie Merrifield, the primary object was, as ever, woman’s work, especially her own, for the Church; and the actual business absorbed her. In spite of her evenings’ talk to her Aunt Lilias, and the sad and painful recollections it had aroused, still her only look at Magdalen Prescott’s face was one half of curiosity half of sorrow, as of the object of the brief calf-love of one of many brothers, and who had been now lost sight of, with the passing wonder whether, if the affection had survived and been encouraged, it might have led him to better things. While Magdalen felt the poignant renewal of the one romance of a lifetime, as she caught tones, watched little gestures and recognised those indescribable hereditary similarities which more and more bore in upon her the fraternal connection of the bright earnest woman with the lively pleasant young man who had brought the attraction of a higher tone of manners and cultivation into the country town. No more had been heard of him since his promise to write, a promise that had been only once remembered, so that she had tried to take refuge in the supposition, unlikely as it was, that her stepmother had confiscated his letters. All was a blank since that last stolen kiss; and the wonder whether she could by any means discover anything further from Lady Merrifield or Gillian, so occupied her that she hardly heard the tenor of the two speeches, and did not observe Agatha’s glowing cheeks and burning eyes, which might have told her that this was one of the moments which direct the current of life.