VALLEY

CHAPTER XXVANOTHER SCANDAL AND ANOTHER "EXPLANATION"FAITH went early to Sunday School and wasseated in the corner of her class pew before anyone came. Therefore the dreadful truth did not burstupon any one until Faith left the class pewnear thedoor to walk up to the manse pew after Sunday School.The church was already half filled and all who weresitting near the aisle saw that the minister's daughterhad boots on but no stockings!Faith's new brown dress,which Aunt Martha hadmade from an ancient pattern, was absurdly long forher, but even so it did not meet her boot tops. Twogood inches of bare white leg showed plainly.Faith and Carl sat alone in the manse pew. Jerryhad gone into the gallery to sit with a chum and theBlythe girls had taken Una with them.The Meredithchildren were given to "sitting all over the church" inthis fashion and a great many people thoughtitveryimproper. The gallery especially, where irresponsiblelads congregated and were known to whisper and suspectedof chewing tobacco during service, was noplace for a son of the manse. But Jerry hated themanse pew at the very top of the church, under the262