Lady Cecilia rose and received him with a charming languor of manner.
"I have called to satisfy myself that your ladyship has recovered from the indisposition of yesterday," said the rector.
"Not altogether," answered Cecilia. "Indeed, after I returned home, yesterday, I experienced a relapse."
"I observed that you were not at chapel in the evening, and I feared that such might be the case."
It was with difficulty that Lady Cecilia could suppress a smile of joy and triumph as this ingenuous and unsophisticated announcement met her ears. He had thought of her! he had noticed her absence!
"I can assure you that nothing save indisposition could have induced me to remain away from a place where one gathers so much matter for useful and serious meditation," answered the lady.
"And yet the world generally forgets the doctrines which are enunciated from the pulpit, an hour after their delivery," observed Reginald.
"Yes—when they are doled forth by ministers who have neither talent nor eloquence to make a profound impression," said Cecilia, artfully conveying a compliment without appearing to mean one at the moment. "I believe that our churches would be much better frequented, were the clergy less dogmatic, less obscure; and did they address themselves more to the hearts of their hearers than they do."
"I believe it is necessary to appeal to the heart, and not be satisfied with merely reaching the ears," said the rector, modestly.
