“Oh dear, no, love. It is the festival of Saint Minima, virgin and martyr.”
Here Miss Pavey sighed.
“Oh!” ejaculated Rhoda, quietly. “How is Mr Lee?” she added, after an awkward pause.
“Not well, dear—not well. He works too hard, and troubles himself too much about the wicked people here. Poor fellow! how saintly are his efforts for their good. But what do you think, Rhoda, dear?”
“I don’t know.”
“He has taken to calling me Sister Martha!”
“Well,” said Rhoda, smiling, “as you are working so hard with him now in the parish, it is very kindly and nice, even if it does sound formal or ceremonial—Sister Martha.”
“I must confess,” said Miss Pavey, “that I don’t like it. Of course we work together—like brother and sister. But I don’t think it was necessary.”
“Neither do I,” said Rhoda, smiling.
“I do not agree with Mr Lee, of course, in all things,” continued Miss Pavey, “but he is very good.”