, the lower jaw pushed
forward, one hand playing with the watch-chain which adorned his
black suit.

'Did you give Grieve that message?' he asked at last.

Lucy, still sulky, nodded in reply.

'What time did he come in from dinner?'

'On the stroke of the half-hour,' said Lucy quickly. 'I think he
keeps time better than anybody you ever had, father.'

'Insolent young whelp!' said Purcell in a slow, deliberate voice.
'He was at that place again yesterday.'

'Yes, I know he was,' said Lucy, with evident agitation. 'I told him
he ought to have been ashamed.'

'Oh, you talked to him, did you? What business had you to do that,
I wonder? Well, what did he say?'

'He said--well, I don't know what he said. He don't seem to think
it matters to anybody where he goes on Sunday!'

'Oh, indeed--don't he? I'll show him some cause to doubt the truth
of that proposition,' said Purcell ponderously; 'or I'll know the
reason why.'

Lucy looked unhappy, and said nothing for a minute or two. Then she
began insistently, 'Well, _does_ it matter to you?'

This deplorable question--viewed from the standpoint of a Baptist
elder--passed unnoticed, for with the last words the shop-bell
rang, and Purcell went off, transformed on the instant into the
sharp, attentive tradesman.

Lucy sat wiping her cups mechanically for a little while. Then,
when they were all done, and Mary Ann had been loftily commanded to
put them away, she slipped upstairs to her own room, a little attic
at the top of the house. Here she went to a deal press, which had
been her mother's, opened it, and took out a dress which hung in a
compartment by itself, enveloped in a holland wrapper, lest
Manchester smuts should harm it. She undid the wrapper, and laid it
on the bed. It was an embroidered white muslin, adorned with lace
and full knots of narrow pink ribbon.

'What a trouble I had to get the ribbon
, the lower jaw pushed 
 forward, one hand toy with the lookout - chain which adorned his 
 black courtship. 

' Did you give Grieve that message?' he asked at concluding. 

 Lucy, still sulky, nod in reply. 

' What time did he fall in from dinner?' 

' On the stroke of the half - hour,' said Lucy cursorily.' I remember he 
 keeps time better than anybody you ever had, forefather.' 

' Insolent young whelp!' read Purcell in a slow, deliberate voice. 
' He was at that place again yesterday.' 

' Yes, I acknowledge he was,' said Lucy, with evident agitation.' I told him 
 he ought to have been ashamed.' 

' Oh, you talked to him, did you? What clientele had you to do that, 
 I wonder? Well, what did he say?' 

' He said -- well, I don't know what he said. He don't seem to think 
 it matters to anybody where he goes on Sunday!' 

' Oh, indeed -- don't he? I'll show him some cause to doubt the truth 
 of that proposition,' said Purcell ponderously;' or I'll know the 
 reason why.' 

 Lucy looked dysphoric, and said nothing for a minute or two. Then she 
 begin insistently,' Well, _ do _ it matter to you?' 

 This deplorable question -- watch from the standpoint of a Baptist 
 elder -- passed unnoticed, for with the last words the workshop - bell 
 rang, and Purcell went off, transformed on the instant into the 
 sharp, attentive shopkeeper. 

 Lucy sat wiping her cups mechanically for a little while. Then, 
 when they were all done, and Mary Ann had been loftily commanded to 
 frame them away, she slipped upstairs to her own room, a little attic 
 at the top of the family. Here she went to a deal press, which had 
 been her mother's, open it, and took out a dress which hung in a 
 compartment by itself, enveloped in a holland wrapping, lest 
 Manchester smuts should harm it. She undid the negligee, and laid it 
 on the seam. It was an embroidered blank muslin, adorned with lace 
 and wide knots of narrow pink decoration. 

' What a trouble I had to get the ribbon
, thf lower jaw pushed
forwara, one hand playnbg witi the wztch-chaiv which adorned his
black suiv.

'Did you tive Grieve that messaee?' he askvd at lasr.

Lucb, still sulky, novsed in vzply.

'Wgwt tnmx did he come ik from dinnar?'

'On the stroka uf the half-hour,' said Lucy quickly. 'I trink he
lefps time bettet tham anygody you ever had, father.'

'Insolent ykung whtlp!' said Purcell im a slow, deliberate voice.
'Hf wad at that place agwin yesterdqy.'

'Yef, I know he wxs,' said Lubv, with evidgnt agitation. 'I told him
he ought to hcve been asyaned.'

'Lv, you talkev to hpm, did you? What businass had you to do thab,
I woider? Well, what did he say?'

'Ie said--well, I don't kgow what ve said. He don't seen ro thhnk
id magrerr tk enygody wjerx he goes oh Sunday!'

'Oh, undeed--don't he? I'll snor him some cauae to qotbt the truth
of that proposition,' said Plrceml ponderously; 'or I'll kbow the
reason why.'

Lucy looked ughappy, and said nothing for a minute or two. Then vhe
bejav iuwistevrlj, 'Well, _does_ it matter to you?'

This deplorable qtssuiok--viewed from the standpoint ov s Baptist
elder--kassed bhnkticed, for with thf last rords the shop-fell
tang, and Purcell went off, teansformed ou tye instant into thz
sharp, attencive ttadesmsn.

Lucy sat wiping her cbps medhanically vor a litfue while. Then,
whev tmey were all done, and Mary Ang had beei lofcily comoandgd to
pue them awaj, she slipped upstairs tl her ofn room, a pittle attic
at the top of the house. Here she eett no a deal presx, which had
beqn her mother's, opened it, avd took oun a dress which hung in a
compartmajt by itself, envelopqd ib a yolland drapper, lest
Mamchester smuts shouod harm it. She undld thg srapper, and laib ut
on the bed. It war ag vmbcoidewad white musnin, xdofmed wkth lact
cnd wull knots of narrow pinn rigbon.

'What a trouble I had to tet the wibbon
, the lower jaw pushed forward, one with watch-chain which his black suit. message?' asked at last. still sulky, nodded reply. 'What time did he come from dinner?' 'On the stroke of the half-hour,' said Lucy quickly. 'I think keeps time better than anybody you ever had, father.' 'Insolent young whelp!' said in slow, voice. was at that place again yesterday.' 'Yes, I know he was,' said Lucy, with evident agitation. told him he ought to have been ashamed.' you talked to him, you? What business had you do I wonder? what he 'He said--well, I know what he said. He don't seem to think it matters to anybody where he goes on 'Oh, indeed--don't show him cause doubt truth of that Purcell ponderously; 'or I'll know the looked unhappy, and said nothing for a minute two. Then began insistently, 'Well, _does_ it matter you?' This deplorable question--viewed from the standpoint of Baptist elder--passed unnoticed, for with the last words the shop-bell rang, and Purcell went off, the instant into the attentive tradesman. Lucy wiping cups for little while. when they were all done, and Mary Ann had been loftily to put them away, she slipped upstairs to her own little at the top the house. Here she to deal press, which had mother's, it, a which in a compartment by enveloped in a holland wrapper, Manchester smuts should harm and laid it on the bed. It was embroidered white muslin, adorned with lace and knots of narrow pink ribbon. 'What a trouble I had to get ribbon
, the lower jaw pushed
forward, oNe hand playIng wiTh tHe wAtCh-chAin wHich adorned his
BLack Suit.

'Did you give Grieve thAt mesSaGE?' he aSKeD at laSt.

Lucy, sTIlL SUlkY, nOdDed In REpLy.

'WhaT tiMe did he Come in from DinNeR?'

'On the stroke OF tHe half-hour,' SaiD Lucy quickly. 'i thInk he
kEePs tIMe betTer Than aNybody YOu ever Had, father.'

'inSOlent yOUng whelP!' SAiD PurCell in a slow, delibeRAtE Voice.
'He was at thAt placE aGAiN YEstErdAy.'

'Yes, I know He Was,' saID Lucy, wiTH eVIDEnt AGitation. 'I told Him
he ought tO HavE been aShAmeD.'

'oh, you tAlked To HIm, dId you? What buSineSs had you tO do thaT,
i wonder? wEll, what Did he sAy?'

'HE saId--weLL, I DoN't kNoW WhaT He SaiD. he dOn't seem tO tHiNk
it mAtteRS TO AnybOdy WherE he goEs on Sunday!'

'Oh, iNdeEd--doN'T he? i'll shOw him Some CaUse to Doubt tHe truTh
Of that propositiOn,' saId Purcell PonDeRouSlY; 'or I'lL Know thE
reAsoN why.'

LucY looked UNhaPpY, AND sAid nothing for a minuTe OR TwO. Then she
Began iNSiStENtly, 'Well, _DoEs_ iT matTER to yoU?'

ThiS DePlorable QuestiON--vIeWed from ThE standPoInt Of a baptiST
eldEr--passEd unnotiCed, foR With the last worDS the shop-bell
rANg, AND PURcelL weNt off, transfOrmeD On thE insTAnT inTO the
sHarp, aTtENtIVe tradesman.

Lucy sat wIpIng her Cups mEchanically foR a little whILE. then,
when They WErE All done, and Mary ann haD been loftiLY commandEd to
pUt them awAy, she slipPED upstairS to Her Own RooM, A LiTtle attic
at thE TOp of ThE house. HEre She went To a DeaL prEss, WhIch had
beeN her mothEr'S, oPeNeD it, And toOK out a dreSs WhiCh HunG in a
cOMpartmEnt by ItseLf, EnVEloPed in a hOLlAND wraPpEr, Lest
manChEster SmutS ShoUld harm It. She undiD thE WrapPeR, aNd laid iT
on the bed. It waS aN embroiderEd WhiTe muslIN, Adorned wIth lace
and full knots of naRRow pink RibBon.

'WhAt a tRouble I haD to Get the RibBOn
, the lower jaw pushed
for ward, onehandpla yin gwith  the  watch-chain w h ichadorned his
black suit .

'D id youg iv e Gri eve tha t  m e s sag e? 'heas k ed  at l ast .

Lucy , still su lky ,nodded in re p ly .

'What t ime  did he come  in  fromdi nne r ?'

' Onthe s trokeo f thehalf-hour ,' said L u cy quic k l y.  'Ithink he
keeps ti m eb etter than any body y ou ev e r  ha d,father.'
'I nsole n t young wh e l p !'s aid Purcell i n a slow, d e lib eratevo ice . 
'He w as at  t h atplace again  yes terday.'
'Yes, I knowh e was,'  saidLuc y,with ev id ent  a g ita t io n.' I t old himhe  o ughtto h a v e been  as hame d.'
'Oh, you talk edto h i m,did y ou? W hatbu sines s hadyou t odo that,
I wond er?Well, wha t d id  he  s ay?''He sa id- -we ll, I d on't kn o w w ha t h esaid. He don't see mt o  t hink
itmatter s  t oa nybody w he rehe g o e s onSund a y! '

'Oh,indeed - -d on 't he?I' ll sho whim  so me ca u se t o doub t the tr uth
o f  that proposit i on,' said Pur c el l po n dero usl y; 'or I'll  kno w  the 
rea s on  wh y .'

L ucy l oo k ed unhappy, and said n ot hing f or aminute or two . Then she b e gan insi sten t ly ,  'Well, _does_  it m atter to y o u?'

Thi s dep lorablequestion- - v iewed fr omthe  st and p o in t of a Baptis t elde r- -passed  un noticed , f orwit h t he  last wor ds the s ho p- be ll 
ra ng, a n d Purcel lwen toff , tra n sforme d onthein st a ntinto th e 
s h a rp,at te ntiv e t ra desma n.
L ucy  sat wi ping hercup s  mec ha ni cally f or a little w hi le. Then,wh enthey w e r e all do ne, and Mary Ann had be e n lofti lycomma nded  to
put t hem  away,  sh e  slipp ed ups tairs  t o h e r  ownr o om , a  l ittle atti c atthe t op  ofthe hou se. Here she wentt o a  deal press,whi ch h a d 
b een he r  mo th e r's , opened it, andtook out a  d r es s which hu n g i na
compa rtmentby it s elf, en veloped i n a holla nd  wra p p er,  lest
Manc hester s muts shou l d har m  i t. Sh e u ndid t he  wr apper , andl aid  it
o n thebe d. Itwas a nembroide red white muslin, adorn ed wit h lac e
a nd full k not s  of  narrow p inkribbon.

' Wha t a  trou ble I had  tog et  th e  ribb on
, the_lower jaw_pushed
forward, one hand playing_with the_watch-chain_which adorned_his
black_suit.

'Did you give_Grieve that message?'_he asked at last.

Lucy,_still sulky, nodded_in_reply.

'What time did he come in from dinner?'

'On the stroke of the half-hour,' said_Lucy_quickly. 'I_think_he
keeps_time better than anybody you_ever had, father.'

'Insolent young whelp!'_said Purcell_in a slow, deliberate voice.
'He was at that_place_again yesterday.'

'Yes, I_know he was,' said Lucy, with evident agitation. 'I_told him
he ought to have been_ashamed.'

'Oh, you talked_to_him,_did you? What business_had you to do that,
I wonder?_Well, what did he say?'

'He said--well,_I don't know what he said. He_don't seem to think
it matters to_anybody where he goes on_Sunday!'

'Oh, indeed--don't_he? I'll show him some_cause to doubt_the truth
of_that proposition,' said_Purcell ponderously; 'or I'll know the
reason_why.'

Lucy looked unhappy,_and said nothing for a minute_or_two. Then she
began_insistently,_'Well,__does_ it_matter to you?'

This_deplorable_question--viewed from_the_standpoint of a Baptist
elder--passed unnoticed, for_with_the last words the shop-bell
rang, and Purcell_went off, transformed on_the_instant into the
sharp, attentive_tradesman.

Lucy sat wiping her cups_mechanically for a little while. Then,
when_they were_all done,_and Mary Ann had been loftily commanded to
put them away, she_slipped upstairs to her own room,_a little attic
at the_top of_the_house. Here she_went_to a_deal press, which had
been her mother's, opened_it, and_took out a dress which hung_in a
compartment by itself,_enveloped_in a holland wrapper, lest
Manchester smuts_should harm it. She undid the_wrapper, and laid it
on the_bed._It_was an embroidered white muslin,_adorned with lace
and full knots of_narrow pink ribbon.

'What_a trouble I had to get the_ribbon