The absurdity of the thing struck Richard sharply, but he feared to hurt the girl and lose her confidence.
“Her behaviour is only a kind of insolent prayer!” he said. “—Has the clergyman ever spoken to her about it?”
“I don't think he has. He spoke to me, but when I said he ought to speak to her, he did not seem to see it. I should speak to her fast enough if it were my church!”
“I dare say he thinks her mind is affected, and fears to make her worse,” said Richard. “But he might, I think, persuade her that, as she is not on good terms with the person who lives in the church, she ought to stay away.”
Barbara looked at him with doubtful inquiry, but Richard went on.
“What sort of a man is the clergyman?” he asked.
“I don't know. He seems always thinking about things, and never finding out. I suppose he is stupid!”
“That does not necessarily follow,” said Richard with a smile, reflecting how hard it would be for the man to answer one of a thousand questions he might put to him in connection with his trade. “Your poor mother must be very unhappy!” he added.
“She may well be! I am no comfort to her. She never heeds me; or she tells me to go and amuse myself—she is busy. My father has his twin, and poor mamma has nobody!”