"It's the natural way," said the old lady. "It is only the fruit of the Spirit that is 'love, joy, peace.' 'Tain't natural to love what you don't like."
"What you don't like! no," said Mrs. Barclay; "that is a pitch of love
I never dreamed of."
"'If ye love them that love you, what thank have ye?'" said the old lady quietly.
"Mother's off now," said Charity; "out of anybody's understanding. One would think I was more unnatural than the rest of folks!"
"She said you were more natural, thats all," said Lois, with a sly smile.
The talk ceased. Mrs. Barclay looked on for a few minutes more, marvelling to see the quick dexterity with which everything was done by the two girls; until the dishes were put away, the tcib and towels were gone, the table was covered with its brown cloth, a few crumbs were brushed from the carpet; and Charity disappeared in one direction and Lois in another. Mrs. Barclay herself withdrew to her room and her thoughts.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE CARPENTER.
The day was a more than commonly busy one, so that the usual hours of lessons in Mrs. Barclay's room did not come off. It was not till late in the afternoon that Lois went to her friend, to tell her that Mrs. Marx would send her little carriage in about an hour to fetch her mother, and that Mrs. Barclay also might ride if she would. Mrs. Barclay was sitting in her easy-chair before the fire, doing nothing, and on receipt of this in formation turned a very shadowed face towards the bringer of it.
"What will you say to me, if after all your aunt's kindness in asking me, I do not go?"