68 COUSIN PHILLIS.
"Then she found out you had written those definitions on her list of words?"
"Oh! yes" — with a smile of amusement and pleasure. He was going to tell me what had taken place, but checked himself.
"But I don't think the minister will like your having given her a novel to read?"
"Pooh! What can he more harmless? Why make a bugbear of a word? It is as pretty and innocent a tale as can he met with. You don't suppose they take Virgil for gospel?"
By this time we were at the farm. I think Phillis gave me a warmer welcome than usual, and cousin Holman was kindness itself. Yet somehow I felt as if I had lost my place, and that Holdsworth had taken it. He knew all the ways of the house; he was full of little filial attentions to cousin Holman; he treated Phillis with the affectionate condescension of an elder brother; not a bit more; not in any way different. He questioned me about the progress of affairs in Eltham with eager interest.
"Ah!" said cousin Holman, "you'll be spending a different kind of time next week to what you have done this! I can see how busy you'll make yourself! But if you don't take care you'll be ill again, and have to come back to our quiet ways of going on."
"Do you suppose I shall need to be ill to wish to come back here?" he answered, warmly. "I am only afraid you have treated me so kindly that I shall always be turning up on your hands."
"That's right," she replied. "Only don't go and make yourself ill by over-work. I hope you'll go on
