"All the best came from the parsonage, as of course they ought," said Lily. "But Hopkins had to make up the deficiency. And as my uncle told him to take the haycart for them instead of the hand-barrow, he is broken-hearted."
"I am sure he was very good-natured," said Grace.
"Nevertheless he is broken-hearted; and I am very good-natured too, and I am broken-backed. Who is going to preach to-morrow morning, Mrs. Boyce?"
"Mr. Swanton will preach in the morning."
"Tell him not to be long, because of the children's pudding. Tell Mr. Boyce if he is long, we won't any of us come next Sunday."
"My dear, how can you say such wicked things! I shall not tell him anything of the kind."
"That's not wicked, Mrs. Boyce. If I were to say I had eaten so much lunch that I didn't want any dinner, you'd understand that. If Mr. Swanton will preach for three-quarters of an hour—"
"He only preached for three-quarters of an hour once, Lily."
"He has been over the half-hour every Sunday since he has been here. His average is over forty minutes, and I say it's a shame."
"It is not a shame at all, Lily," said Mrs. Boyce, becoming very serious.