called upon to mention the changes that had taken place within two years, they would perhaps have said at first that there

pleasant in the sultry afternoons, and the cattle stood for hours knee-deep in dark pools, overhung by drooping boughs. The great school-room at the Grammar School resounded no more with the tread of young feet, or the murmur of young

time, not unhappily, in a sort of continuous day-dream, sitting with a book of poetry under a hedge in the hayfield, or wandering with her little nephew, Seth Maxfield the younger, in Pudcombe Woods, which were near her brother's farm. She liked looking back better than looking forward, perhaps; and enacted in her imagination many a scene that had occurred at dear Llanryddan over and over again. But still there were many times when she indulged in hopeful anticipations as to Algy's return. He had come back to London after his foreign travel, and had spent another brilliant season under the patronage of his great re

ing words, no flattering epithets, no pet names, had been bestowed upon her by her father's old friends and companions. She was just simply Rhoda Maxfield to them; never "Primrose," or "Pretty one," or "Rhoda dear;" and the Methodists, however bl

ghted by early disappointment, as hers had been) had dropped several hints to that effect sufficiently broad to be understood even by the bashful Rhoda. And, a little to her own surprise, Rhoda had felt something like gratification, in consequence; Mr. Diamond was such a very clever gentleman. Although he wasn't rich, yet everybody thought a great deal of him. Even Dr. Bodkin (decidedly the most awful embodiment

the fire and force of a masculine passion, which often makes girls pass for cruel who are only childish, she never had thought of Mr. Diamond as seriously suffering for her sake. But yet she was les

ht-coloured bows of ribbon and dainty muslin frills. Mrs. Seth looked contemptuous at what she called "Rhoda's finery," and told her she would never do for a farmer's wife if she spent so much time over a parcel of frippery. Seth Max

g the family at Whitford. Not that Seth was a deeply religious man. But his father's desertion of the Wesleyans appeared

e Society. But I don't believe the Society will spend their money with him now as they did. So that's so much clean lost. I'm not so strict as some, myself; nor I don't see the use of it. But I do think a man ough

s had been vouchsafed to his father, to be willing to break entirely with the old man. So, when old Max proposed to send Rhoda to the farm for a few weeks, he paying a weekly stipend for her board, his son and his son's wife had at once agreed to

stone-flagged parlour, where brother Jackson would read a chapter and offer up a prayer. And afterwards there would be smoking of pipes and drinking of home-brewed by the men; while

n, and of the dangers that beset sinners; but he never spoke as if they were real to him-as if he heard and saw all the terrible things he discoursed of so glibly. Then Mr. Jackson was, Rhoda thought, a

kin or Mr. Warlock speak a not too long discourse in correct English, and with that refined accent which Rhoda's ear had learned to prize, and where the mellow old organ made a quivering atmosphere of music that seemed to mingle with the light from the pai

well Farm was a potent agent in confirm

r Jackson and the others. She could think her own thoughts, and dream her own dreams, whilst she was knitting a stocking or hemming a pinafore

t manifestations, such as were known to have prevailed at the preachings of Berridge and Hickes, seventy or eighty years ago; and earlier still, at the first open-air sermons of John Wesley himself, at Bristol. Brother Jackson shook his head, and pursed up his lips at the rumours. He had never much approved of Powell; and Seth Maxfield had distinctly disapproved of him. Seth had been brought up in the

an once given good advice to Farmer Maxfield respecting the treatment of sick horses and cattle. Seth was fond of repeating that he himself was "not so strict as some," finding, indeed, that a reputation for strictness, in a Methodistical sense, put him at a disadvantage with his fellow farmers on market-days. But whenever Richard Gibbs was spoken of, he would add to this general disclaimer of peculiar piety on his own part, "Not, mind you, but what there's some as conversion does a wonderful deal for, to this day, thanks be! Why, there's Dicky Gibbs, head-groom a

our at Duckwell Farm, and his melancholy, clean-shaven, lanter

in spirit on behalf of brother Powell,

from Pudcombe village. A great cool jug of ale stood on the table, and the setting sun sent his rays

"He's been getting further and further

them poor Welsh at his field-preachings. Men and women stricken down like bullocks,

Seth eagerly. "Why,

s a shudder at the thought that, had David Powell shown this new power of his a year or two ago

rned Richard Gibbs. "Why, how can

seems, don't it? Just think of fall

awakened to sin! Is not that a hun

e Bedlamites to be awakened to a sense

d!" ejaculated

" added Mrs. Se

doings," said Roger He

ith an anxious lack-lustre gaze at the white-washed ceiling, as though counsel might be

replying, "That was in the beginning, when such things may have been needfu

th, and waving it up and down to emphasise his words, "it's my o

aid the baker, who had once upon a time been uneasy under t

ine. Religion is one thing and rampaging is another. From the firs

delicate and mysterious o

hose acquaintance with the human brain was not easily to be set forth in wor

It's like flying in the face of Providence almost, to want to go so much

s own stomach to the poor," put in

" returned Seth, with a tou

"I heard it. And Dr. Evans said it was catching, and that such-like excitement was dangerous, for you never know where it might end. And Dr. Eva

ough to protect the little "human brain" within from all danger. "Mercy me!" she said, "I hope Powell won'

Mrs. Maxfield," said brother J

ing, Mr. Jackson!" persi

n't like measles!

kson rose to depart, and the baker went away with him. Seth Maxfield detai

onference being over, he bade her "Good evening,"

reland, I hear, to a wedding at some nobleman's hous

h eager feminine interest in the top

obleman's niece. The housekeeper at the Hall was telling some of my fellow-servants about it the other day. But I'm ill at remembering the chat I hear. A

dled together, with her work lying in her lap. "You didn't come in to prayers, Rhoda," said her sister-in-law. "But, however, you can hear it all just as well outside, as in. If it wasn't for civility to Mr. Jackson, I'd liefer stay out here these fine summer evenings, myself. And I was thinking-why

ber which she occupied; and she consented to go to bed at once. Her head ache

just such another; looked as if you might blow her away. I can't think whatever made your father marry her! Not but Rhoda's a nice-tempered girl e

kes you

eer, scared kind of

g cold don't make

l you. It's either she's sickening for