Mr. Benson got up and said he believed his nose was bleeding, and went out quick, and since then Miss Sallie has never asked me a single question.  Not one.

Now I wonder what made Martha speak out like that?  Abraham and Jacob were good men who did some bad things, but generally only their goodness is mentioned.  While you’re living it’s apt to be the other way.

But I’m glad the bad is overlooked in time.  Maybe that is what God will do with everybody.  He’ll wipe out all the wrongness and meanness, and see through it to the good.  I hope that’s the way it’s going to be, for that’s my only chance.

Since Miss Sallie stopped asking me anything, and I her, I have a lovely time in my mind taking things off the other children and putting them on the Orphans.  There’s Margaret Evans.  In the winter she’s always blue and frozen, and I’d give her that Mallory child’s velvet coat and gray muff and tippet, and put Margaret’s blue cape and calico dress on her.

Poor little Margaret!  She’s so humble and thankful she gets even less than the rest, it looks like, though I suppose in clothes she has the same allowance, and the difference, maybe, is in herself.

Some people are born to be stepped on, and of steppers there are always a-plenty.

After Sunday-school we walk to the church we’re going to, two by two, just alike and all in blue.  The minister always mentions us in his prayers, except at St. John’s, the prayer-book not providing for Orphans in particular.

When church is over we march home and have dinner, and after dinner we study the lesson for next Sunday and practise hymns until time for the afternoon service.  That begins at four, and some of the town ministers preach or talk, generally preach, long and wearisome.

The Episcopal minister gets through in a hurry.  We love to have him.  He talks so fast we don’t half understand, and before we know it he’s got his hand up and we hear him saying:  “And now to the Father and to the Son—.”  And the rest is mumbled, but we know he’s through and is glad of it, and so are we.

The Presbyterian Sunday is the longest and solemnest, and I always write a new story in my mind when Dr. Moffett preaches.  He is very learned, and knows Hebrew and Latin and Greek, but not much about little girls.

Poor Mrs Blamire; she tries to keep awake, but she can’t do it; and after the first five minutes she puffs away just as regular as if she were wound up.  Once I shut my eyes and tried to puff like her, but I forgot to be careful, and did it so loud the girls came near getting in trouble.  Dr. Moffett is deaf, and didn’t hear.  Miss Bray heard.

But the Baptist minister don’t let you sleep on his Sunday.  He used to try to make the girls come up and profess, but now he don’t ask even that.  Just sit where you are and hold up your hand, and when you join the church—­any church will answer—­you are saved.  I don’t understand it.