"What is the name of the deserted lady?" inquired the younger miss.
Alice answered decidedly, "I am not at liberty to tell."
A day or two after, the servant announced Miss Perry and Mrs. Mark, the two ladies with whom the conversation had taken place. After a few moments, the latter said,—
"I have thought much about poor Ada Morrison. Suppose she should marry Mr. Barton and find afterward that he had deceived her."
"I have thought of that," murmured Alice, vexed that the subject was renewed; "and I have determined to do nothing about it."
"What else has he been guilty of?" asked Miss Perry, bluntly.
"They say there are things which would depose him from the ministry, if generally known."
"He must be a villain," returned the young lady. "I don't see how he can be such a hypocrite as to write sermons! I heard him once; but I little thought what a vile creature he was."
"That is the worst of the whole," continued Alice. "If I'm not very much mistaken, whole pages of his fine oratory may be found in the best English divines."
"Shocking! Terrible!" ejaculated Mrs. Mark.