cription of him especially delighted her. It was in piquant contrast with her previous notions about Methodists, who wer

own to her, and she asked herself what good result in their lives or characters was produced by their weekly church-going. Was Mrs. Errington more truthful; Miss Chubb less vain; Mr. Warlock less gloomy; her father (for Minnie, in the pride of her keen intellect, spared no one) less arrogant and overbearing; she herself more patient, gentle, hopeful, and happy, than if the old bell of St. Chad's

Was there in truth a physician who could minister to a suffering spirit? She thought of Powell wit

ed their extreme limits in the Church of England as by law established. He detested enthusiasm as a dangerous and disturbing element in human affairs, and he viewed with especial indignation the pretensions of unlearned persons to preach and proselytise. Althoug

say (albeit, in truth, he had no great gift of listening to anyone who opposed hi

they who said it. She thought, and pondered, and wondered about the Methodist preacher, and about her chance of ever seeing or hearing more of him, until a

er mother, Mrs. Bodkin found several di

want with h

hen she was a child. I recollect only a little fair face and shy eyes, under a coal-scuttle straw bonnet.

What will yo

ing yourself to death with Goody Barton, whose snuff-taking would try the nerves of a rhinoceros, nor forbid my inviting the littl

Jobsons the alphabet, my dear.

me, and I'm sure that

er own way, of cou

her frank, bright smile, "Papa, may I not ask Rh

da w

grocer's daughter, pap

t nervously ove

to associate with such folks? Have y

t ask her because I'm

habitually spoke in, "I'm sure nobody has more friends th

I want to have little Maxfield to tea." Minnie laughed at herself, t

s, kicked a footstool out of the way, an

r the McDougalls, or-or plenty more?" said he, s

ides, you know, the other people are playing their parts in life, and strutting about hither and thither on the stage, and they find it all more

s good for nothing. They brought me a cup just now in the study that was absolutely undrinkable. Is it Smith

e doctor gave

d her maid, Jane, with the fo

nd cannot often leave her room, and it would give her great pleasure to see Rhoda. The maid shall wait and accomp

ind his counter holding the pink perfumed note between his floury finger and thumb, and tur

, which, nevertheless, looked as obstinately idealess a one as could well be imagined, as he stood conning the pink note, with his grey eyebrows knotted together, and his heavy under-lip pursed up. Perhaps not the feeblest element in his feeling of exultation was the sense of triumph over David Powell. Powell might approve or disapprove, but anyway, he would see that he was wrong in supposing the Erringtons did not think Rhoda good enough for them! If they introduced her about among their fri

ce with Rhoda, in view of the promotion that awaited her. Well, Rhoda

e her tell Rhoda to get ready without delay. He cut Betty Grimshaw short in her exclamations and inquiries. "I

, Jonathan?" exclaimed

r wrist fiercely. He did not want that family d

ounced it to her, and hurried her preparations. "But I don't want to go!" murmured Rhoda plaintivel

this moment; he was in such a taking, and so-so uncumboundable." This latter was a wor

ve never lived so secluded a life as hers had been. Had she been able to say a word to Algernon, she though

da uttered no word, except to ask Jane timidly if s

niture all covered with grey holland. There was the glitter of gilt picture-frames on the walls, and the shining of a great mirror, and of a large, dark, polished pianoforte at one end of the room. And there was a mingled smell of flowers and cedar-wood, and altogether the impression made upon Rhoda's senses, as sh

apparatus was hidden by a curtain which hung across a recess, and there were bookshelves full of books, and flowers on a stand, and a writing-table. On one side of the f

-coloured robe, the delicate white hands relieved upon it, the graceful languor of Minnie's attitude, and the air of refinement in the

the fire opposite to herself; and when they were alone together, she talked on for some time with a sort of careless good-nature, which, little by little

-and-lady-like! Yes; positively that is the word. She is as shy a

s something very different, and the young lady was charmed with her new protégée. Only she was obliged to admit, before the afternoon was over, that she had failed

as when he talked very pitifully about poor people, and little children, and things like that. Sometimes, too, she felt frightened at his preaching, but she supposed she was frightened because she

hoda declared Mr. Powell to be "an awakening preacher." "I don't think he has awakened you to any ver

rd, in the young lady's ears. Moreover, it did not help to put her at her ease, that she felt sundry uneasy pricks of conscience for not "bearing testimony" with more fervour.

ble ever becomes more real and important than the visible. It was incomparably more necessary to her happiness to be in agre

Powell, and her chapel-going, and her religious feelings, she was surprised to fin

, although she had the best rooms, of course it was very poor, compared with the castle she was brought up in. About Algernon she said very little; but it slipped out that she was in the habit of being present when Mr. Diamond came to read with the young gentleman; and then Miss Minnie was very much interested in hearing what Mr. Diamond said to his pupil, and how R

d. And there were some delicious cakes, which Rhoda was quite natural enough to own she liked very much. And then Mrs. Bodkin came in, and

But she has never heard a good inst

ning the piano; "but I keep up my playing on my daughter'

m, in order, as she whispered to her mother, to e

nd then give forth more volume of tone in "The Heavens are telling." This was different, indeed, from the tinkling old harpsichord at home!

pital audience!" said Mrs

er her father would let her. She left Dr. Bodkin's house in a very different frame of mind from that

ers, and so dainty in their persons! She could not help contrasting the coarse, rough ways at home with the smoothness and softness

people-besides her own family and Powell there were two or three neighbours who joined in the exercises-and a pray