Amabel answered quietly that we had attended the Church of England for several months. While I wondered if Mrs. Philippa thought one's religion a thing to be dropped like a hoop-petticoat when it was not convenient.
"You must follow your own consciences about that, nieces," observed Mrs. Deborah. "We shall be glad to have you go to church with us, of course, but no constraint shall be put upon you. Sister Chloe, will you be kind enough to ring for supper? Mrs. Thorpe, you will remain and sup with us."
"Yes, Mrs. Thorpe, you will certainly remain and sup with us," chimed in Mrs. Chloe. "Sister Philippa, no doubt you wish for the pleasure of Mrs. Thorpe's company to supper."
"I hope Mrs. Thorpe will please herself in the matter," answered Mrs. Philippa. "I have no doubt she will have a much better supper at home than we shall, but if she likes to remain, she is quite welcome."
Mrs. Thorpe, who I thought seemed to understand pretty well with whom she had to deal, thanked the ladies, but declined the invitation. "Having," as she said, "business to attend to at home."
"Very well," said Mrs. Deborah. "Do you wish to keep these girls of ours for a night or two more, or shall they stay here with us till we go?"
"I shall be only too glad to keep them as long as I can, Mrs. Deborah," answered Mrs. Thorpe. "I fear I shall miss them sadly when they are gone, for I am sure no one ever had two more agreeable and amiable young ladies in her family."
"I am glad to hear you say so, and it speaks well for both parties," said Mrs. Deborah.
"Yes, indeed, it speaks well for both parties," said Mrs. Chloe! "Sister Philippa, are you not glad to hear Mrs. Thorpe say that the young ladies have been agreeable and amiable?"
"Sister Chloe, I wish you would let me have an opinion of any own now and then," was the reply. "Of course Mrs. Thorpe would say nothing less now that her lodgers are going away. She may expect to have them back at some time."