detained Miss Keeldar - that she would go and look for her, when Miss
Keeldar saved her the trouble by appearing: it was to be presumed at least that
she who now came in through a glass-door from the garden owned that name.
    There is real grace in ease of manner, and so old Helstone felt when an
erect, slight girl walked up to him, retaining with her left hand her little
silk apron full of flowers, and, giving him her right hand, said pleasantly: -
    »I knew you would come to see me, though you do think Mr. Yorke has made me
a Jacobin. Good-morning.«
    »But we'll not have you a Jacobin,« returned he. »No, Miss Shirley, they
shall not steal the flower of my parish from me: now that you are amongst us,
you shall be my pupil in politics and religion: I'll teach you sound doctrine on
both points.«
    »Mrs. Pryor has anticipated you,« she replied, turning to the elder lady.
»Mrs. Pryor, you know, was my governess, and is still my friend; and of all the
high and rigid Tories, she is queen; of all the stanch churchwomen, she is
chief. I have been well drilled both in theology and history, I assure you, Mr.
Helstone.«
    The Rector immediately bowed very low to Mrs. Pryor, and expressed himself
obliged to her.
    The ex-governess disclaimed skill either in political or religious
controversy, explained that she thought such matters little adapted for female
minds, but avowed herself in general terms the advocate of order and loyalty,
and, of course, truly attached to the Establishment. She added, she was ever
averse to change under any circumstances; and something scarcely audible about
the extreme danger of being too ready to take up new ideas, closed her sentence.
    »Miss Keeldar thinks as you think, I hope, madam.«
    »Difference of age and difference of temperament occasion difference of
sentiment,« was the reply. »It can scarcely be expected that the eager and young
should hold the opinions of the cool and middle-aged.«
    »Oh! oh! we are independent: we think for ourselves!« cried Mr. Helstone.
»We are a little Jacobin, for anything I know: a little free-thinker, in good
earnest. Let us have a confession of faith on the spot.«
    And he took the heiress's two hands - causing her to let fall her whole
cargo of flowers -