ing Company awoke to a dim consciousness of the fact that he was being made the subject of gentle raillery.
"Oh, now, look here, Phil," he said, "the woman's handsome and all that, you know; but really, belonging, as she does, to the laboring class, it's not to be presumed that she would drive so conservative a man as I am suddenly daft."
"She hasn't driven you suddenly daft, Barry," replied Westgate. "I'm sure that no one who has known you for any length of time would accuse her of having done that."
"Philip," remonstrated Ruth, "behave yourself!"
"And it seems to me," added Mrs. Tracy, "that it's entirely out of place anyway to talk about the attractions of a widow whose husband has only been dead for two or three weeks. A woman so recently bereaved is much more likely to spend her time in prayer and meditation than in making herself attractive to men."
"Mrs. Bradley isn't," said Westgate. "Is she, Mr. Farrar? You've had some talk with her along religious lines."
In spite of Ruth's warning glances, Westgate seemed determined that the conversation should remain centered on Mrs. Bradley.
"I'm afraid," replied the rector seriously, "that Mrs. Bradley is not much given to prayer as yet. But I have strong hope that we shall eventually make a good church-woman of her. With that in view I have asked Miss Tracy to take an early opportunity to call on her."
"Quite proper," said Barry. "I heartily approve of it."
"Oh, Ruth!" exclaimed Miss Chichester, "let me go with you when you go to call."
"No, Jane," replied Ruth firmly, "I think I can do more with her if I see her alone."
It might have ended there if Mrs. Tracy had not seen fit to declare:
