"Don't I visit the villagers sometimes with mother?" broke in Doris indignantly.
"Yes; but that's different—"
"Oh, children, children, don't wrangle!" interposed Miss Barton; "what is there for you to get so angry about? I am sorry though, Doris, to hear you speaking of someone as 'common' again, for it is an ill-bred mode of speech, as I have told you before. I am surprised at you. I think if you remembered that every time you bend your knees in prayer it is to worship Him who, when He lived on this earth, was regarded as only a common man, a carpenter's son, one who made His friends mostly amongst common people, such as fishermen and those of the labouring classes, you would speak with greater respect of working folks."
Doris hung her head in sudden shame, whilst Felicia's face cleared of the shadow which had overspread it, and Molly said gravely—
"Father says we ought not to judge people by their position in life, or by their money, because those are things that pass away."
"Yes, but goodness remains, and it crops up often where we least expect it," Miss Barton replied.
"Oh, yes!" agreed Felicia eagerly. "I am certain if you saw Mrs. M'Cosh—she is very plain, and has a big red face—and heard her gruff voice, you would think she was a grumpy old thing, and really she's one of the dearest, kindest souls in the world. I am sure if Doris knew her she would think so too."
"Do tell us some more about her," said Molly; "why have you never spoken of her before?"
"I—I did not quite like to speak to you about how very, very poor we used to be," admitted Felicia; "and I couldn't talk much of Mrs. M'Cosh without speaking of that."
A few minutes later the dinner-bell rang, and the conversation was not resumed afterwards. When Felicia returned to the Priory at four o'clock she was in a somewhat depressed condition of mind, which had been brought about by the knowledge, which had become more and more apparent to her during the day, that her elder cousin had a grievance against her. She could not imagine what it could be; but she was certain she had somehow offended Doris.