The gates ajar. By Elizabeth Stuart Phelps.

2I6 The Gates Ajar.
knocked at the study door, he said,' Come in,
and stopped his walkin' and turned as quick.
"'0,' says he,' good morning. I thought it
was Mrs. Forceythe.'
"I told him no, I was n't Mrs. Forceythe, but
I'd come to comfort him in his sorrer all the
same. But that's the only thing I have agin
our minister. He won't becomforted. Mary
Ann Jacobs, who's ben there kind of looking
after the children and things for him, you
know, sence the funeral - she says he's asked
three or four times for you, Mrs. Forceythe.
There's ben plenty of his people in to see him,
but you haven't ben nigh him, Mary Ann
says."
I stayed away because I thought the presence of friends at this time would be an intrusion," Auntie said; "but if he would like to
see me, that alters the case. I will go, certainly."
"I don't know," suggested Mrs. Quirk, looking over the tops of her spectacles, "I s'pose
it's proper enough, but you bein' a widow, you
know, and his wife "
Aunt Winifred's eyes shot fire. She stood
up and turned upon Mrs. Quirk with a look
the like of which I presume that worthy lady
had never seen before, and is not likely to see