'Leave the church, young woman, and don't try to make me violent in the house of God!'
They were in the porch by this time, and Elfie and Gwen joined them. Elfie at once tried to make peace.
'I am very sorry,' she said contritely. 'I am so fond of the organ that I could not resist trying it. Please forgive me; I will not do it again unless I have permission.'
She smiled so sweetly as she spoke that the old lady seemed a little softened.
'You will never get my permission,' was all she said; and then she hobbled away like some malignant fairy, disappearing through a little wicket gate at the end of the churchyard, and making Gwen exclaim, 'She must be the clergyman's mother or aunt. Well, we have had a pleasant introduction! What will Agatha say?'
CHAPTER IV
Bluebeard's Cupboard
'O most lame and impotent conclusion!'—Shakespeare.
Agatha was naturally very vexed when she heard from her sisters what had happened. She was sometimes laughed at by her friends for her devotion to the clergy, and all her hopes of doing good were centred in the country church and its organizations.