"That? Oh yes, that is our little chapel," said Bessie, with a change of tone. "Isn't it pretty? But we mean to have a nicer one some day, and in a better situation, too. Van Alstine & Overbeck mean to build a nice little stone church up on the hill by our house."
"A chapel! And do you have a minister?" asked Marion.
"Yes, every other Sunday; and when he isn't here, grandfather or father conducts the services. Sometimes Harry does when he is at home. You'll see to-morrow."
"And do you have a Sunday school?"
"Of course," answered Bessy, in a surprised tone. "Don't you? I thought everybody had Sunday schools."
"Everybody don't, by a great deal," said Marion, a good deal offended. "We do, of course, but I didn't expect to find one out here in the woods."
"Oh, we are not owls, though we do live in the woods," said Bessy, laughing, in perfect good-nature. "I suppose you thought you were coming among a set of savages, didn't you? See, there comes the carriage and Cousin Helen, but not Stannie. Now, that is too bad. I suppose her grandmother has kept her again."
Bram, who was driving, pulled up and invited the girls to get into the carriage.
Marion was not sorry to accept the invitation, for she still felt tired with her journey, and she was very curious to see the cousin Helen of whom she had heard so much. Mrs. Andrews was a very pretty woman, dressed, as Gerty had described her, in deep widow's mourning, but by no means woebegone or doleful in her expression; on the contrary, she was very bright and cheerful, and as Marion could not but allow very attractive in manner and expression.
"Oh, Cousin Helen, where is Stannie?" exclaimed Bessy.