By-and-by the landlady's daughter returned home alone, saying, with a dreadful laugh, that Dahlia had sent her for her Bible; but she would give no explanation of the singular mission which had been entrusted to her, and she showed no willingness to attempt to fulfil it, merely repeating, "Her Bible!" with a vulgar exhibition of simulated scorn that caused Rhoda to shrink from her, though she would gladly have poured out a multitude of questions in the ear of one who had last been with her beloved.

After a while, Mrs.
Wicklow looked at the clock, and instantly became overclouded with an extreme gravity.
"Eleven! and she sent Mary Ann home for her Bible.

This looks bad.

I call it hypocritical, the idea of mentioning the Bible.

Now, if she had said to Mary Ann, go and fetch any other book but a Bible!" "It was mother's Bible," interposed Rhoda.
Mrs.Wicklow replied: "And I wish all young women to be as innocent as you, my dear.