ath Mrs. Errington's sitting-room, and the great bow window, of which mention has been made, jutted out beyond the shop front, and overhung the street. The house was old, and larger than it

ded the shop entirely from the dw

encouraged than the reverse, finding that it had its conveniences), a

d buy up half the town. Old Max might retire to-morrow.

r the last thirty or forty years, and would serve a child with a pennyworth of gingerbre

is shaven chin. He usually wore a suit of coarse grey clothes, with black calico sleeves tied on at the elbow. But even th

had been servant in a great family; and at her master's death had received a legacy, which, together with her own savings, had sufficed to purchase a small annuity. She had been able to lay by the greater part of her annuity since she had lived in Whitford, and announced her intention of bequeathing her savings to her nephew Ja

Diamond, startled this family party assembled in the par

is grey suit, just as he appeared in his shop, except that the black calico sleeves had been removed from his coat. He

s, and hair of a reddish flaxen colour. There was a certain family likeness between him and his aunt, Mrs. Grimshaw, as she was called in Whitford, despite her spinsterhood. She too was tall, bony, and hard-featured; with a face which look

seemed to belong to a different order of bei

raven-black hair was worn long, and fell straight on to his collar. But although this made his aspect strange, it could not render it either vulgar or ludicrous.

s, in fact, rather tall. She was about nineteen years old, but scarcely looked her age. She had a broad and beautiful brow, on which the rich chestnut hair was smoothly parted; a sensitive mouth, not over-small;

taste of the vulgar. And although, if you had asked Whitford persons "Is not Rhoda Maxfield wonderfully pretty?" most of thos

opular appreciation of her beauty; for a very cursory observation of the world will suffice to show that on th

ang like that!" exclaimed Betty Grimshaw, when

out?" as

at Mr. Diamond, the schoo

om the table towards the fireside. Upon this signal, Betty Grimshaw rose and bustled out of the room, declaring that she must see about getting the supper; for that that little Sarah could never be trusted to see to the roasted

he, holding out his

with us, Brother Powell? The

. "You know I never eat s

re in the right," respond

preacher, "but that it would be be

need it for my

your supper early? Say at six o'clock or so; so t

" answered the ol

hin. "I am not clear about it," he murmured. But Maxf

rs. Errington?" asked Rhoda, so

"Go upstairs to Mrs. Errington?" he said, answering his daughter, but l

omised before-before we knew that

propriety, than the other members of her family. Mrs. Errington had amused herself with teaching the motherless girl,

word. Don't you stay late, mind. Not one m

ch it cost her an effort to make as staid as she knew would be approved by her father and Mr. Powell. W

gton's fondness for Rhoda; and how kind she had always been to the girl; and how he thought it a duty almost,

ily; "but no companion for my Rhoda. Rhoda features

he same meditative attitude

unconverted?" he said, w

't take much h

eyes were upraised now, and f

"I know Rhoda; and I have her welfare at heart, as, I suppose,

tly, "are you sure that you have a clear lead

in his chair, a

cked people in a carnal sense; but are they such as can edify or strengthen a young girl like Rhoda, wh

before the Lord," said M

as though to control them from vehement action, and when next he spoke, his voice h

f it?" said he; "there is

d Maxfield, turning shar

there not be a snare here for Rhoda? She who is so alive to all beauty and graciousness in God's world, and in

d of at Powell, as he said, "What ha

er it was on my mind. I sinned in resisting the call, for-for reasons which matter to

now," said Maxfield, slowly. "It may be as it was rather a t

an before. But he answered after a moment in a low, sweet voice, and without a trace of anger, "You cannot mistrust me more

"But you have neither wife, nor daughter, nor sister, and you cannot understand these matters as well as

wisdom I am uttering! God forbid that I should set

ightly said!" exclaimed Maxfi

ience bids me. I dare not resist tha

ell you I follow mine, young man. And you can ask any of our brethren here in Whitford

ly. "I have release

se you might be putting something into her thoughts that wouldn't have come there of itself. And keep a discreet tongue before Betty and James. 'Least said, soonest mended.' And I'

ly and great connections among the rulers of the land. Others has the goods of this world earned by honesty, and diligence, and frugality; and these three bring a blessing. Some is fitted to be gentlefolks by nature, let 'em be born where they will. Others, like my sister-in-law Betty, is born to serve. We are all the Lord's creatu

his counsel!" said Po

walked pretty straight for the last half cent

aking to you on this theme! But it matters nothing what I desire or shrink fr

ed blessing on the househ

him by the hand, and had declared him to be the most awakening preacher they had had for many years. He was never tired of vaunting Powell's zeal, and diligence, and eloquence. Backsliders were brought again into the right way, sinners were awakened, believers were refreshed, under his ministry. The fame o

ed to much deference, alike from preachers and congregation. The exhortations and admonitions which were doubtless needful for his neighbours, were entirely out of place when addressed to himself. His piety and probity were established on a rock. And the Lord had, moreov

n which the sun seemed to shine was that brief year of his second marriage. Not that he had been, or that he now was, an unhappy man. His life had satisfactions in it of a sober, sombre kind. He did not grow soft or sentimental in reviewing the past. He was accustomed to the chill, grey atmosphere in which he lived. But he had felt warm sunlight once, and remembered it. And he

but a softening effect on Mr. Maxfield's demeanour; insomuch that Betty and James, coming in presently to supper, found th