She was betrothed to one now dead, Or worse, who had dishonoured fled.—­SCOTT

The party set out for Backsworth early in the day.  It included Julius, who had asked for a seat in the carriage in order to be able to go on to Rood House, where lived Dr. Easterby, whom he had not seen since he had been at Compton.

“The great light of the English Church,” said Rosamond, gaily; while Anne shuddered a little, for Miss Slater had told her that he was the great fountain-head of all that distressed her in Julius and his curates.  But Julius merely said, “I am very glad of the opportunity;” and the subject dropped in the eager discussion of the intended pastimes, which lasted beyond the well-known Wil’sbro’ bounds, when again Julius startled a Anne by observing, “No dancing?  That is a pity.”

“There, Anne!” exclaimed Rosamond.

“It was out of kindness to me,” said Anne:  and then, with a wonderful advance of confidence, she added, “Please tell me how you, a minister, can regret it?”

“Because I think it would be easier to prevent mischief than when there has to be a continual invention of something original.  There is more danger of offence and uncharitableness, to speak plainly.”

“And you think that worse than dancing?” said Anne, thoughtfully.

“Why is dancing bad at all, Anne?” asked Rosamond.

Anne answered at once, “It is worldly.”

“Not half so worldly as driving in a carriage with fine horses, and liveries, and arms, and servants, and all,” said Rosamond from her comfortable corner, nestling under Miles’s racoon-skin rug; “I wonder you can do that!”

“The carriage is not mine,” said Anne.

“The worldliness would be in sacrificing a duty to the luxury and ostentation of keeping one,” said Julius.  “For instance, if I considered it due to my lady in the corner there to come out in this style, and put down a curate and a few such trifles with that object.  To my mind, balls stand on the same ground; they are innocent as long as nothing right is given up for them.”

“You would not dance?” said Anne.

“Wouldn’t he?” said Rosamond.  “I’ve seen him.  It was at St. Awdry’s at a Christmas party, in our courting days.  No, it wasn’t with me.  Oh no!  That was the cruel cut!  It was with little Miss Marks, whose father had just risen from the ranks.  Such a figure she was, enough to set your teeth on edge; when, behold! this reverend minister extracts her from the wall-flowers, and goes through the Lancers with her in first-rate style, I assure you.  It had such an effect, do you know, that what does my father do but go and ask her next; and I heard an old lady remarking that there were only two gentlemen in the room, Mr. Charnock and Lord Rathforlane.  So you see it was all worldliness after all, Anne.”

“I suppose it was good-nature,” said Anne.

“Indignation, I fancy,” said Julius.