He was absolutely taken aback. What did she mean? Was she really poaching in his preserves? It was his privilege surely to give the conversation a religious turn, and he did not see exactly how she had contrived to do it. However, it was his duty to rise to the occasion, even although the effort might involve a severe mental dislocation.
"I hope we shall sing together there," he said, "with crowns on our heads, and palms in our hands."
It was Mona's turn to be taken aback. She had not realised the effect of her unconventional remarks, when tried by a conventional standard.
"Behüte Gott!" she said as she made her way home in the driving rain. "There are worse fates conceivable than annihilation."
Rachel was severely dignified all day, but she was anxious that Mona should go with her to the soirée, so she was constrained to bury the hatchet before evening. Mona was much relieved when things had slipped back into their wonted course. Her life was a fiasco indeed if she failed to please Rachel Simpson.
CHAPTER XXXI.
STRADIVARIUS.
The chapel doors were open, and a bright light streamed across the gravelled enclosure on to the dreary street beyond. People were flocking in, talking and laughing, in eager anticipation of pleasures to come; and a number of hungry-eyed children clung to the railing, and gazed at the promise of good things within.
And indeed the promise was a very palpable one. Mona had scarcely entered the outer door when she was presented with a large earthenware cup and saucer, a pewter spoon, and a well-filled baker's bag.
"What am I to do with these?" she asked, aghast.