“Is—­is his name Mr. Woolling?” faltered Mildred.

A slight, evanescent smile flitted across the visitor’s face.  “No,” she said, “that is not his name.  Our minister has just returned from Europe, where he has taken a well-deserved vacation.  I, too, have only come in town within the last few days, otherwise I do not think you would have escaped us so long,” she concluded, with a bright smile, but after a moment she added earnestly, “Please do not think that we shall try to force upon you associations that may not be pleasant.  We only ask that you come and judge for yourselves.”

“What you ask is certainly reasonable,” said Mildred thoughtfully, and with an inquiring glance at her mother.

“I agree with you, Millie,” her mother added with gentle emphasis, for she had been observing their visitor closely; “and I think we both appreciate Miss Wetheridge’s motive in calling upon us, and can respond in like spirit.”

“I thank you,” was the cordial reply.  “On this card is written my address and where to find our chapel, the hours of service, etc.  Please ask for me next Sabbath afternoon, and I will sit you, so you won’t feel strange, you know.  After the service is over we will remain a few moments, and I will introduce you to our minister.  As I said at first, if you don’t like us or our ways you must not feel in the least trammelled.  However that may be, I trust you will let me come and see you sometimes.  It was my duty to call upon you because you were in my district; but now it will be a pleasure to which I hope you will let me look forward.”

“You will be welcome,” said Mildred smilingly.  “I can at least promise so much.”

Miss Wetheridge had slipped off her glove while talking, and in parting she gave a warm, friendly palm to those she wished to win.  She had intended only a smiling leave-taking of the children, but they looked so pretty, and were regarding her with such an expression of shy, pleased interest, that she acted on her impulse and kissed them both.  “I don’t often meet such kissable children,” she said, with a bright flush, “and I couldn’t resist the temptation.”

The room seemed lighter the rest of the day for her visit.  If she had kissed the children out of policy Mrs. Jocelyn would have been resentfully aware of the fact; but they were “kissable” children, and no one knew it better than the fond mother, who was won completely by the spontaneity of the act.

“Millie, I think I’d go to her church, even if Mr. Woolling were the minister,” she said, with her sweet laugh.

“Soft-hearted little mother!” cried Mildred gayly; “if people only knew it, you have one very vulnerable side.  That was a master-stroke on the part of Miss Wetheridge.”

“She didn’t mean it as such, and if some good people had kissed the children I’d have washed their faces as soon as they had gone.  The visit has done you good, too, Millie.”