Nobody

Lois, if you come to that, I think I – and you – are fit for anybody."

"Yes," said Lois quietly. "I think so too. But they do not take thesame view. And if they did, Madge, we could not think of them."

"Why not? —if they did. I do not hold quite such extreme rules as youand grandmother do."

"And the Bible." —

"Other people do not think the Bible is so strict."

"You know what the words are, Madge."

"I don't know what the words mean."

Lois was brushing out the thick masses of her beautiful hair, whichfloated about over her in waves of golden brown; and Madge had beenthinking, privately, that if anybody could have just that view of Lois, his scruples – if he had any – would certainly give way. Now, at hersister's last words, however, Lois laid down her brush, and, coming up, laid hold of Madge by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shaking. Itended in something of a romp, but Lois declared Madge should never saysuch a thing again.

CHAPTER XXXVI

TWO SUNDAY SCHOOLS

Lois was inclined now to think it might be quite as well if somethinghindered Mr. Dillwyn's second visit. She did not wonder at Madge'sevident fascination; she had felt the same herself long ago, and inconnection with other people; the charm of good breeding and graciousmanners, and the habit of the world, even apart from knowledge andcultivation and the art of conversation. Yes, Mr. Dillwyn was a goodspecimen of this sort of attraction; and for a moment Lois'simagination recalled that day's two walks in the rain; then she shookoff the impression. Two poor Shampuashuh girls were not likely to havemuch to do with that sort of society, and – it was best they should not.It would be just as well if Mr. Dillwyn was hindered from coming again.

But he came. A month had passed; it was the beginning of December whenhe knocked next at the door, and cold and grey and cloudy and windy asit is December's character in certain moods to be. The reception he gotwas hearty in proportion; fires were larger, the table even morehospitably spread; Mrs. Barclay even more cordial, and the familyatmosphere not less genial. Nevertheless the visit, for Mr. Dillwyn'sspecial ends, was hardly satisfactory. He could get no private speechwith Lois. She was always "busy;" and at meal-times it was obviouslyimpossible, and would have been impolitic, to pay any particularattention to her. Philip did not attempt it. He talked rather to everyone else; made himself delightful company; but groaned in secret.

"Cannot you make some excuse for getting her in here?" he asked Mrs.

Barclay at evening.

"Not without her sister."

"With her sister, then."

"They are very busy just now preparing some thing they call 'applebutter.' It's unlucky, Philip. I am very sorry. I always told you yourway looked to me intricate."

Fortune favoured him, however, in an unexpected way. After a day passedin much inward impatience, for he had not got a word with Lois, and hehad no excuse for prolonging his stay beyond the next day, as they satat supper, the door opened, and in came two ladies. Mr. Dillwyn wasformally presented to one of them as to "my aunt, Mrs. Marx;" the otherwas named as "Mrs. Seelye." The latter was a neat, brisk little body, with a capable air and a mien of business; all whose words came out asif they had been nicely picked and squared, and sorted and packed, andserved in order.

"Sorry to interrupt, Mrs. Armadale" she began, in a chirruping littlevoice. Indeed, her whole air was that of a notable little hen lookingafter her chickens. Charity assured her it was no interruption.

"Mrs. Seelye and I had our tea hours ago," said Mrs. Marx. "I hadmuffins for her, and we ate all we could then. We don't want no morenow. We're on business."

"Yes," said Mrs. Seelye. "Mrs. Marx and I, we've got to see everybody, pretty much; and there ain't much time to do it in; so you see we can'tchoose, and we just come here to see what you'll do for us."

"What do you want us to do for you, Mrs. Seelye?" Lois asked.

"Well, I don't know; only all you can. We want your counsel, and thenyour help. Mr. Seelye he said, Go to the Lothrop girls first. I didn'tcome first, 'cause there was somebody else on my way here; but thisis our fourth call, ain't it, Mrs. Marx?"

"I thought I'd never get you away from No. 3," was the answer.

"They were very much interested, – and I wanted to make them allunderstand – it was important that they should all understand – "

"And there are different ways of understanin'," added Mrs. Marx; "andthere are a good many of 'em – the Hicks's, I mean; and so, when wethought we'd got it all right with one, we found somebody else was in afog; and then he had to be fetched out."

"But we are all in a fog," said Madge, laughing. "What are you comingto? and what are we to understand?"

"We have a little plan," said Mrs. Seelye.

"It'll be a big one, before we get through with it," added hercoadjutor. "Nobody'll be frightened here if you call it a big one tostart with, Mrs. Seelye. I like to look things in the face."

"So do we," said Mrs. Armadale, with a kind of grim humour, – "if youwill give us a chance."

"Well, it's about the children," said Mrs. Seelye.

"Christmas – " added Mrs. Marx.

"Be quiet, Anne," said her mother. "Go on, Mrs. Seelye. Whose children?"

"I might say, they are all Mr. Seelye's children," said the littlelady, laughing; "and so they are in a way, as they are all belonging tohis church. He feels he is responsible for the care of 'em, and hedon't want to lose 'em. And that's what it's all about, and how theplan came up."

"How's he goin' to lose 'em?" Mrs. Armadale asked, beginning now toknit again.

"Well, you see the other church is makin' great efforts; and they'regoin' to have a tree."

"What sort of a tree? and what do they want a tree for?"

"Why, a fir tree!" – and, "Why, a Christmas tree!" cried the two ladieswho advocated the "plan," both in a breath.

"Mother don't know about that," Mrs. Marx went on. "It's a new fashion, mother, – come up since your day. They have a green tree, planted in atub, and hung with all sorts of things to make it look pretty; littlecandles especially; and at night they light it up; and the children aretickled to death with it."

"In-doors?"

"Why, of course in-doors. Couldn't be out-of-doors, in the snow."

"I didn't know," said the old lady; "I don't understand the newfashions. I should think they would burn up the house, if it'sin-doors."

"O no, no danger," explained Mrs. Seelye. "They make them wonderfullypretty, with the branches all hung full with glass balls, and candles, and ribbands, and gilt toys, and papers of sugar plums – cornucopia, youknow; and dolls, and tops, and jacks, and trumpets, and whips, andeverything you can think of, – till it is as full as it can be, and thebranches hang down with the weight; and it looks like a fairy tree; andthen the heavy presents lie at the foot round about and cover the tub."

"I should think the children would be delighted," said Madge.

"I don't believe it's as much fun as Santa Claus and the stocking,"said Lois.

"No, nor I," said Mrs. Barclay.

"But we have nothing to do with the children's stockings," said Mrs.Seelye. "They may hang up as many as they like. That's at home. This isin the church."

"O, in the church! I thought you said it was in the house – in people'shouses," said Charity.

"So it is; but this tree is to be in the church."

"What tree?"