She had felt quite shocked and upset by the
girl's tantrums.
It was almost immediately after this that Norah said she wished to be
a Baptist, and to go to chapel with Mr. Dale.
"Do you think," asked Dale, when informed of Norah's petition, "that
it is genuine? Or is it just curiosity?"
"I think it's genuine," said Mavis. "But no doubt she is influenced by
the fact that _you_ go there. I do believe she'd wish to go
anywhere--or do anything that you did."
Dale questioned Norah seriously.
"Why do you wish it? Speak to me with freedom, my dear."
"I do want to be good, sir." And Norah burst into tears. "Oh, I do
want to be good."
"Then come with me," said Dale.
Henceforth they two went to worship together every Sunday, and Mavis
once or twice felt a twinge of regret that she herself had not been
able to abandon the established church and join the Baptists with her
husband. But that she could not do. The chapel was too ugly, its
eastward wall too bare, its faith too painfully simple and
matter-of-fact.
She took great pains with Norah's Sunday costume, dressing her better
than before, anxious that the girl should do them credit when seen
with Dale in a public place; and Norah, all in her best, following
after her master as he made his long strides down the road, trotted
like a faithful little dog.
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