Mrs. Giles and Gregory had now completed their task, or had so nearly done so as to make Miss Dale think that she might safely leave the church. "We will go in now," she said; "for it is dark and cold, and what I call creepy. Do you ever fancy that perhaps you will see a ghost some day?"
"I don't think I shall ever see a ghost; but all the same I should be half afraid to be here alone in the dark."
"I am often here alone in the dark, but I am beginning to think I shall never see a ghost now. I am losing all my romance, and getting to be an old woman. Do you know, Grace, I do so hate myself for being such an old maid."
"But who says you're an old maid, Lily?"
"I see it in people's eyes, and hear it in their voices. And they all talk to me as if I were very steady, and altogether removed from anything like fun and frolic. It seems to be admitted that if a girl does not want to fall in love, she ought not to care for any other fun in the world. If anybody made out a list of the old ladies in these parts, they'd put down Lady Julia, and mamma, and Mrs. Boyce, and me, and old Mrs. Hearne. The very children have an awful respect for me, and give over playing directly they see me. Well, mamma, we've done at last, and I have had such a scolding from Mrs. Boyce."
"I daresay you deserved it, my dear."
"No, I did not, mamma. Ask Grace if I did."
"Was she not saucy to Mrs. Boyce, Miss Crawley?"
"She said that Mr. Boyce scratches his nose in church," said Grace.
"So he does; and goes to sleep, too."