"I should be ashamed of myself if I went making any objections to anything you wanted to know about little Mary.

But it's strange to me to be in a beautiful place like this, drinking wine with gentlefolks--and I'm almost afraid--" "Not afraid, I hope, that you can't tell us what we are so anxious to know, quite at your ease, and in your own way ?" said the rector, pleasantly.

"Pray, Mrs.Peckover, believe I am sincere in saying that we meet on equal terms here.

I have heard from Mr.Blyth of your motherly kindness to that poor helpless child; and I am indeed proud to take your hand, and happy to see you here, as one who should always be an honored guest in a clergyman's house--the doer of a good and charitable deed.

I have always, I hope, valued the station to which it has pleased God to call me, because it especially offers me the privilege of being the friend of all my fellow-christians, whether richer or poorer, higher or lower in worldly rank, than am myself." Mrs.Peckover's eyes began to fill.