work continued, but the talk was entirely between the gentleman and
lady, chiefly about music for the choral society, and the voices of the
singers, about which Dolores neither knew nor cared.

By one o'clock the long tables were a pretty sight, covered with piles
of fruit and cakes, vases of flowers and little flags, establishments
of teacups at intervals, and a bouquet and pretty card at every one of
the plates.

Then came early dinner at the house, and such rest as could be had
after it, till the pony-chaise, waggonette, and Mrs. Blackburne's
carriage came to the door to convey to church all whom they could
carry, the rest walking.

The church was a sea of neat round hats, mostly black, with a
considerable proportion of feathers, tufts, and flowers. On their dark
dresses were pinned rosettes of different-coloured ribbon, to show to
which parish they belonged. There was a bright, short service, in
which the clear, high voices of the multitudinous maidens quite
overcame those of the choir boys, and then an address, respecting which
Constance pronounced that 'Canon Fremont was always so sweet,' and
Dolores assented, without in the least knowing what it had been about.

Constance, who had driven down, was to have kept guard, in the walk
from church, over the white-rosed Silverton detachment; but another
shower was impending, and Miss Hacket, declaring that Conny must not
get wet, rushed up and packed her into the waggonette, where Dolores
was climbing after, when at a touch from Gillian, Lady Merrifield
looked round.