COUSIN PHILLIS. 41
smart clothes. Mrs. Dobson to-day - Phillis, I am thankful thou dost not care for the vanities of dress!"
Phillis reddened a little as she said, in a low humble voice,—
"But I do, father, I'm afraid. I often wish I could wear pretty-coloured ribbons round my throat like the squire's daughters."
"It's but natural, minister!" said his wife; "I'm not above liking a silk gown better than a cotton one myself!"
"The love of dress is a temptation and a snare," said he, gravely." The true adornment is a meek and quiet spirit. And, wife," said he, as a sudden thought crossed his mind, "in that matter I, too, have sinned. I wanted to ask you, could we not sleep in the grey room, instead of our own?"
"Sleep in the grey room? — change our room at this time o' day?" cousin Holman asked, in dismay.
"Yes," said he. "It would save me from a daily temptation to anger. Look at my chin!" he continued; "I cut it this morning — I cut it on Wednesday when I was shaving; I do not know how many times I have cut it of late, and all from impatience at seeing Timothy Cooper at his work in the yard."
"He's a downright lazy tyke!" said cousin Holman. "He's not worth his wage. There's but little he can do, and what he can do, he does badly."
"True," said the minister. "But he is but, so to speak, a half-wit; and yet he has got a wife and children."
"More shame for him!"
"But that is past change. And if I turn him off,
