My large experience (as Reader and Visitor, under not less, first and last, than fourteen beloved clerical friends) informed me that this was another case for preparation by books.

I possessed a little library of works, all suitable to the present emergency, all calculated to arouse, convince, prepare, enlighten, and fortify my aunt.

"You will read, dear, won't you ?" I said, in my most winning way.

"You will read, if I bring you my own precious books?
Turned down at all the right places, aunt.
And marked in pencil where you are to stop and ask yourself, 'Does this apply to me ?'" Even that simple appeal--so absolutely heathenising is the influence of the world--appeared to startle my aunt.

She said, "I will do what I can, Drusilla, to please you," with a look of surprise, which was at once instructive and terrible to see.