“You look comfortable, my dear:  but do you know that is the first bell for prayer meeting?”

“Oh, I am not going to meeting.  I am perfectly delighted to have an evening to myself once more, when that indefatigable people of yours are engaged.  I am actually worn out receiving calls,” she said, languidly.

Mr. Eldred was disappointed.  He had thought more than once that day how he should enjoy it; to have his dream realized, Vida walking with him, to his own meeting, and sitting near, singing as none but she could sing.  A spice of vanity mingled with it too.  How the people would listen and admire!  He felt annoyed and was about to protest, but she looked so like an angel in her soft white dress that he had not the heart to find fault.  So he kissed her good-bye, and went his way alone.

She accompanied him the next week; to be a disappointment, however.  Her voice joined not in the hymns of praise, she remarking at the close of the meeting:—­

“Do you think I could sing in all that discord?  It is horrible; it sets every nerve in my body on edge.  People always sing that way in prayer-meeting, every one trying to sing, though not knowing one note from another.  One old man by me sang five notes below the key; a woman on the other side screamed out as many above; a girl before me had a strong nasal twang.  I should think you’d go distracted; and, by the way, what a quantity of common people attend your church!”

Mr. Eldred looked into the fire and repeated half aloud, “The common people heard Him gladly.”

As the weeks went on, it became evident to him that he must abandon the pleasant plans he had formed of companionship in his work.  He attended meetings alone, made calls alone, and grew weary of apologizing for Vida.

She was willing to attire herself royally and make a round of fashionable calls with him on the first families, but concerning calls on the humbler of the flock she gaily remarked, that she did not purpose turning city missionary.  “When ladies called upon her, she would return their calls, that is, if she wished to continue the acquaintance; but as for running all about town hunting out obscure people, that was out of the question.”

There was a gay clique in the church who eagerly welcomed the pastor’s wife to their circle.  They organised a literary society and gave Shakespearian entertainments.

Mrs. Eldred’s fine literary taste and musical abilities made her a valuable acquisition.  She soon became the centre about which it revolved.  Was there a difficult part to be rendered, or a queen of beauty to be represented, Mrs. Eldred was sure to be chosen, and she gave herself with enthusiasm to the absorbing fascination.