The day was overclouded, and no clearness of atmosphere relieved the aspect of the shabby chapel, with its black railing, and locked gates, and dank flowerless grass inside. To see anything venerable or sacred in the aspect of such a place, required an amount of illusion and glamour which the young minister could not summon into his eyes. It was not the centre of light in a dark place, the simple tribune from which the peoples preacher should proclaim, to the awe and conviction of the multitude, that Gospel once preached to the poor, of which he flattered himself he should be the truest messenger in Carlingford. Such had been the young mans dreams in Homertondreams mingled, it is true, with personal ambition, but full notwithstanding of generous enthusiasm. Nonothing of the kind. Only Salem Chapel, with so many pews let, and so many still to be disposed of, and Tozer a guardian angel at the door. Mr. Vincent was so far left to himself as to give vent to an impatient exclamation as he turned away. But still matters were not hopeless. He himself was a very different man from Mr. Tufton. Kindred spirits there must surely be in Carlingford to answer to the call of his. Another day might dawn for the Nonconformists, who were not aware of their own dignity. With this thought he retraced his steps a little, and, with an impulse which he did not explain to himself, threaded his way up a narrow lane and emerged into Back Grove Street, about the spot where he had lately paid his pastoral visit, and made so unexpected an acquaintance. This womanor should he not say lady?was a kind of firstfruits of his mission. The young man looked up with a certain wistful interest at the house in which she lived. She was neither young nor fair, it is true, but she interested the youthful Nonconformist, who was not too old for impulses of chivalry, and who could not forget her poor fingers scarred with her rough work. He had no other motive for passing the house but that of sympathy and compassion for the forlorn brave creature who was so unlike her surroundings; and no throbbing pulse or trembling nerve forewarned Arthur Vincent of the approach of fate. At that moment, however, fate was approaching in the shape of a handsome carriage, which made quite an exaggeration of echo in this narrow backstreet, which rang back every jingle of the harness and dint of the hoofs from every court and opening. It drew up before Mrs. Hilyards doorat the door of the house, at least, in which Mrs. Hilyard was a humble lodger; and while Vincent slowly approached, a brilliant vision suddenly appeared before him, rustling forth upon the crowded pavement, where the dirty children stood still to gape at her. A womana ladya beautiful dazzling creature, resplendent in the sweetest English roses, the most delicate bewildering bloom. Though it was but for a moment, the bewildered young minister had time to note the dainty foot, the daintier hand, the smiling sunshiny eyes, the air of conscious supremacy, which was half command and half entreatyan ineffable combination. That vision descended out of the heavenly chariot upon the mean pavement just as Mr. Vincent came up; and at the same moment a ragged boy, struck speechless, like the young minister, by the apparition, planted himself full in her way with open mouth and staring eyes, too much overpowered by sudden admiration to perceive that he stopped the path. Scarcely aware what he was doing, as much beautystruck as his victim, Vincent, with a certain unconscious fury, seized the boy by the collar, and swung him impatiently off the pavement, with a feeling of positive resentment against the imp, whose rags were actually touching those sacred splendid draperies. The lady made a momentary pause, turned half round, smiled with a gracious inclination of her head, and entered at the open door, leaving the young pastor in an incomprehensible ecstasy, with his hat off, and all his pulses beating loud in his ears, riveted, as the romancers say, to the pavement. When the door shut he came to himself, stared wildly into the face of the next passenger who came along the narrow street, and then, becoming aware that he still stood uncovered, grew violently red, put on his hat, and went off at a great pace. But what was the use of going off? The deed was done. The world on the other side of these prancing horses was a different world from that on this side. Those other matters, of which he had been thinking so hotly, had suddenly faded into a background and accessories to the one triumphant figure which occupied all the scene. He scarcely asked himself who was that beautiful vision? The fact of her existence was at the moment too overpowering for any secondary inquiries. He had seen herand lo! the universe was changed. The air tingled softly with the sound of prancing horses and rolling wheels, the air breathed an irresistible soft perfume, which could nevermore die out of it, the air rustled with the silken thrill of those womanly robes. There she had enthroned herselfnot in his startled heart, but in the palpitating world, which formed in a moments time into one great background and framework for that beatific form. What the poor young man had done to be suddenly assailed and carried off his feet by this wonderful and unexpected apparition, we are unable to say. He seemed to have done nothing to provoke it approaching quietly as any man might do, pondering grave thoughts of Salem Chapel, and how he was to make his post tenable, to be transfixed all at once and unawares by that fairy lance, was a spite of fortune which nobody could have predicted. But the thing was done. He went home to hide his stricken head, as was natural; tried to read, tried to think of a popular series of lectures, tried to lay plans for his campaign and heroic desperate attempts to resuscitate the shopkeeping Dissenterism of Carlingford into a lofty Nonconformist ideal. But vain were the efforts. Wherever he lifted his eyes, was not She there, allconquering and glorious? when he did not lift his eyes, was not she everywhere Lady Paramount of the conscious world? Womankind in general, which had never, so to speak, entered his thoughts before, had produced much trouble to poor Arthur Vincent since his arrival in Carlingford. But Phbe Tozer, pink and bloomingMrs. Hilyard, sharp and strangeAdelaide Tufton, pale spectator of a life with which she had nothing to dodied off like shadows, and left no sign of their presence. Who was She? CHAPTER IV. AFTER the remarkable encounter which had thus happened to the young minister, life went on with him in the dullest routine for some days. Thursday came, and he had to go to Mrs. Browns teaparty, where, in the drawingroom upstairs, over the Devonshire Dairy, after tea, and music, and the diversions of the evening, he conducted prayers to the great secret satisfaction of the hostess, who felt that the superior piety of her entertainment entirely made up for any little advantage in point of gentility which Mrs. Tozer, with a grownup daughter fresh from a boardingschool, might have over her. On Friday evening there was the singingclass at the chapel, which Mr. Vincent was expected to look in upon, and from which he had the privilege of walking home with Miss Tozer. When he arrived with his blooming charge at the private door, the existence of which he had not hitherto been aware of, Tozer himself appeared, to invite the young pastor to enter. This time it was the buttermans unadorned domestic hearth to which Mr. Vincent was introduced. This happy privacy was in a little parlour, which, being on the same floor with the buttershop, naturally was not without a reminiscence of the near vicinity of all those hams and cheesesa room nearly blocked up by the large familytable, at which, to the disgust of Phbe, the apprentices sat at mealtimes along with the family. One little boy, distinguished out of doors by a red worsted comforter, was, besides Phbe, the only member of the family itself now at home; the others being two sons, one in Australia, and the other studying for a minister, as Mrs. Tozer had already informed her pastor, with motherly pride. Mrs. Tozer sat in an easychair by the fire darning stockings on this October night; her husband, opposite to her, had been looking over his greasy books, one of which lay open upon a little writingdesk, where a bundle of smaller ones in red leather, with Tozer, Cheesemonger, stamped on them in gilt letters, lay waiting Phbes arrival to be made up. The Benjamin of the house sat halfway down the long table with his slate working at his lessons. The margin of space round this long table scarcely counted in the aspect of the room. There was space enough for chairs to be set round it, and that was all the table with its redandblue cover and the faces appearing above it, constituted the entire scene. Mr. Vincent stood uneasily at a corner when he was brought into the apartment, and distinctly placed himself at table, as if at a meal, when he sat down. Do you now take off your greatcoat, and make yourself comfortable, said Mrs. Tozer; theres a bit of supper coming presently. This is just what I like, is this. A party is very well in its way, Mr. Vincent, sir; but when a genleman comes in familiar, and takes us just as we are, thats what I like. We never can be took wrong of an evening, Tozer and me; theres always a bit of something comfortable for supper; and after the shops shut in them long evenings, times free. Phbe, make haste and take off your things. What a colour youve got, to be sure, with the night air! I declare, Pa, somebody must have been saying something to her, or shed never look so bright. I daresay theres more things than music gets talked of at the singing, said Tozer, thus appealed to. But shed do a deal better if shed try to improve her mind than take notice what the young fellows says. Oh, Pa, the idea! and before Mr. Vincent too, cried Phoebeto think I should ever dream of listening to anything that anybody might choose to say! Vincent, to whom the eyes of the whole family turned, grinned a feeble smile, but, groaning in his mind, was totally unequal to the effort of saying anything. After a moments pause of halfdisappointed expectation, Phbe disappeared to take off her bonnet; and Mrs. Tozer, bestirring herself, cleared away the desk and books, and went into the kitchen to inquire into the supper. The minister and the deacon were accordingly left alone. Three more pews applied for this weekfifteen sittings in all, said Mr. Tozer; thats what I call satisfactory, that is. We mustnt let the steam go downnot on no account. You keep well at them of Sundays, Mr. Vincent, and trust to the managers, sir, to keep em up to their dooty. Me and Mr. Tufton was consulting the other day. He says as we oughtnt to spare you, and you oughtnt to spare yourself. There hasnt been such a opening not in our connection for fifteen year. We all look to you to go into it, Mr. Vincent. If all goes as I expect, and you keep up as youre doing, I see no reason why we shouldnt be able to put another fifty to the salary next year. Oh! said poor Vincent, with a miserable face. He had been rather pleased to hear about the opening, but this matteroffact encouragement and stimulus threw him back into dismay and disgust. Yes, said the deacon, though I wouldnt advise you, as a young man settin out in life, to calculate upon it, yet we all think it more than likely; but if you was to ask my advice, Id say to give it em a little more plainmeaning the Church folks. Its expected of a new man. Id touch em up in the StateChurch line, Mr. Vincent, if I was you. Give us a coorse upon the anomalies, and that sort of thingthe bishops in their palaces, and the fisherman as was the start of it all; theres a deal to be done in that way. It always tells; and my opinion is as you might secure the most part of the young men and thinkers, and them as can see whats what, if you lay it on pretty strong. Not, added the deacon, remembering in time to add that necessary salve to the consciencenot as I would have you neglect whats more important; but, after all, what is more important, Mr. Vincent, than freedom of opinion and choosing your own religious teacher? You cant put gospel truth in a mans mind till youve freed him out of them bonds. It stands to reasonas long as he believes just what hes told, and has it all made out for him the very words hes to pray, there may be feelin, sir, but there cant be no spiritual understandin in that man. Well, one cant deny that there have been enlightened men in the Church of England, said the young Nonconformist, with lofty candour. The inconsistencies of the human mind are wonderful; and it is coming to be pretty clearly understood in the intellectual world, that a man may show the most penetrating genius, and even the widest liberality, and yet be led a willing slave in the bonds of religious rite and ceremony. One cannot understand it, it is true; but in our clearer atmosphere we are bound to exercise Christian charity. Great as the advantages are on our side of the question, I would not willingly hurt the feelings of a sincere Churchman, who, for anything I know, may be the best of men. Mr. Tozer paused with a humph! of uncertainty; rather dazzled with the fine language, but doubtful of the sentiment. At length light seemed to dawn upon the excellent butterman. Bless my soul! thats a new view, said Tozer; thats taking the superior line over them! My impression is as that would tell beautiful. Eh! its famous, that is! Ive heard a many gentlemen attacking the Church, like, from down below, and giving it her about her money and her greatness, and all that; but our clearer atmospheretheres the point! I always knew as you was a clever young man, Mr. Vincent, and expected a deal from you; but thats a new view, that is! Oh, Pa, dear! dont be always talking about chapel business, said Miss Phbe, coming in. I am sure Mr. Vincent is sick to death of Salem. I am sure his heart is in some other place now; and if you bore him always about the chapel, hell never, never take to Carlingford. Oh, Mr. Vincent, I am sure you know it is quite true! Indeed, said the young minister, with a sudden recollection, I can vouch for my heart being in Carlingford, and nowhere else; and as he spoke his colour rose. Phbe clapped her hands with a little semblance of confusion. Oh, la! cried that young lady, that is quite as good as a confession that you have lost it, Mr. Vincent. Oh, I am so interested! I wonder who it can be! Hush, child; I daresay we shall know before long, said Mrs. Tozer, who had also rejoined the domestic party; and dont you colour up or look ashamed, Mr. Vincent. Take my word, its the very best a young minister can do. To be sure, where theres a quantity of young ladies in a congregation, it sometimes makes a little dispeace; but there aint to say many to choose from in Salem. La, mamma, how can you think its a lady in Salem? cried Phbe, in a flutter of consciousness. Oh, you curious thing! cried Mrs. Tozer shell never rest, Mr. Vincent, till shes found it all out. She always was, from a child, a dreadful one for finding out a secret. But dont you trouble yourself; its the very best thing a young minister can do. Poor Vincent made a hasty effort to exculpate himself from the soft impeachment, but with no effect. Smiles, innuendoes, a succession of questions asked by Phbe, who retired, whenever she had made her remark, with conscious looks and pink blushes, perpetually renewed this delightful subject. The unlucky young man retired upon Tozer. In desperation he laid himself open to the less troublesome infliction of the buttermans advice. In the mean time the table was spread, and supper appeared in most substantial and savoury shape; the only drawback being, that whenever the door was opened, the odours of bacon and cheese from the shop came in like a musty shadow of the boiled ham and hot sausages within. I am very partial to your style, Mr. Vincent, said the deacon; theres just one thing Id like to observe, sir, if youll excuse me. Id give em a coorse; theres nothing takes like a coorse in our connection. Whether its on a chapter or a book of Scripture, or on a perticklar doctrine, Id make a pint of giving em a coorse if it was me. There was Mr. Bailey, of Parsons Green, as was so popular before he marriedhe had a historical coorse in the evenings, and a coorse upon the eighth of Romans in the morning; and it was astonishing to see how they took. I walked over many and manys the summer evening myself, he kep up the interest so. There aint a cleverer man in our body, nor wasnt a better liked as he was then. And now I understand hes gone awaywhat was the reason? asked Mr. Vincent. Tozer shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. All along of the women they didnt like his wife; and my own opinion is, he fell off dreadful. Last time I heard him, I made up my mind Id never go back againme that was such an admirer of his; and the managers found the chapel was falling off, and a deputation waited on him; and, to be sure, he saw it his duty to go. And, oh, she was so sweetly pretty! cried Miss Phbe but pray, pray, Mr. Vincent, dont look so pale. If you marry a pretty lady, well all be so kind to her! We shant grudge her our minister; we shall Here Miss Phbe paused, overcome by her emotions. I do declare there never was such a child, said Mrs. Tozer its none of your business, Phbe. Shes a great deal too feelin, Mr. Vincent. But I dont approve, for my part, of a minister marrying a lady as is too grand for her place, whatever Phbe may say. Its her that should teach suchlike as us humility and simple ways; and a fine lady isnt no way suitable. Not to discourage you, Mr. Vincent, I havent a doubt, for my part, that youll make a nice choice. I have not the least intention of trying the experiment, said poor Vincent, with a faint smile; then, turning to his deacon, he plunged into the first subject that occurred to him. Do you know a Mrs. Hilyard in Back Grove Street? asked the young minister. I went to see her the other day. Who is she, or where does she belong to, can you tell me?and which of your great ladies in Carlingford is it, he added, with a little catching of his breath after a momentary pause, who visits that poor lady? I saw a carriage at her door. Meaning the poor woman at the back of the chapel? said TozerI dont know nothing of her, except that I visited there, sir, as you might do, in the way of dooty. Ah! I fear shes in the gall of bitterness, Mr. Vincent; she didnt take my umble advice, sir, not as a Christian ought. But she comes to the chapel regular enough; and you may be the means of putting better thoughts into her mind; and as for our great ladies in Carlingford, continued Mr. Tozer, with the air of an authority, never a one of them, I give you my word, would go out of her way avisiting to one of the chapel folks. Theyre a deal too bigoted for that, especially them at St. Roques. Oh, Pa, how can you say so, cried Phbe, when its very well known the ladies go everywhere, where the people are very, very poor? but then Mr. Vincent said a poor lady. Was it a nice carriage? The Miss Wodehouses always walk, and so does Mrs. Glen, and all the Strangeways. Oh, I know, it was the young Dowagerthat pretty, pretty lady, you know, mamma, that gives the grand parties, and lives in Grange Lane. I saw her carriage going up the lane by the chapel once. Oh, Mr. Vincent, wasnt she very, very pretty, with blue eyes and brown hair? I could not tell you what kind of eyes and hair they were, said Mr. Vincent, trying hard to speak indifferently, and quite succeeding so far as Phbe Tozer was concerned; for who could venture to associate the minister of Salem, even as a victim, with the bright eyes of Lady Western? I thought it strange to see her there, whoever she was. Oh, how insensible you are! murmured Phbe, across the table. Perhaps, considering all things, it was not strange that Phbe should imagine her own pink bloom to have dimmed the young pastors appreciation of other beauty. But it was Mrs. Hilyard I inquired about, and not this LadyLady what, Miss Phbe? asked the reverend hypocrite; I dont profess to be learned in titles, but hers is surely a strange one. I thought dowager was another word for an old woman. Shes a beautiful young creature, broke in the butterman. I maynt approve of such goingson, but I cant shut my eyes. She deals with me regular, and I can tell you the shop looks like a different place when them eyes of hers are in it. Shes out of our line, and shes out of your line, Mr. Vincent, added Tozer, apologetically, coming down from his sudden enthusiasm, or I mightnt say as much as I do say, for shes gay, and always agiving parties, and spending her life in company, as I dont approve of; but to look in her face, you couldnt say a word against hernor I couldnt. She might lead a man out of his wits, and I wouldnt not to say blame him. If the angels are nicer to look at, its a wonder to me! Having reached to this pitch of admiration, the alarmed butterman came to a sudden pause, looked round him somewhat dismayed, wiped his forehead, rubbed his hands, and evidently felt that he had committed himself, and was at the mercy of his audience. Little did the guilty Tozer imagine that never beforenot when giving counsel upon chapel business in the height of wisdom, or complimenting the sermon as only a chapelmanager, feeling in his heart that the seats were letting, couldhad he spoken so much to the purpose in young Vincents hearing, or won so much sympathy from the minister. As for the female part of the company, they were at first too much amazed for speech. Upon my word, Papa! burst from the lips of the halflaughing, halfangry Phbe. Mrs. Tozer, who had been cutting bread with a large knife, hewed at her great loaf in silence, and not till that occupation was over divulged her sentiments. Some bread, Mr. Vincent? said at last that injured woman thats how it is with all you men. Niver a one, however you may have been brought up, nor whatever pious ways you may have been used to, can stand out against a pretty face. Thank goodness, we know better. Beautys but skindeep, Mr. Vincent; and, for my part, I cant see the difference between one pair o eyes and another. I daresay I see as well out of mine as Lady Western does out o hers, though Tozer goes on about em. Its a mercy for the world, women aint carried away so; and to hear a man as is the father of a family, and ought to set an example, atalking like this in his own house! What is the minister to think, Tozer? and Phbe, a girl as is as likely to take up notions about her looks as most? Its what I didnt expect from you. La, mamma! as if there was any likeness between Lady Western and me! cried Phbe, lifting a notunexpectant face across the table. But Mr. Vincent was not equal to the occasion. In that locale, and under these circumstances, a tolerable breadth of compliment would not have shocked anybodys feelings; but the pastor neglected his opportunities. He sat silent, and made no reply to Phbes look. He even at this moment, if truth must be told, devoted himself to the wellfilled plate which Mrs. Tozers hospitality had set before him. He would fain have made a diversion in poor Tozers favour had anything occurred to him in the thrill of sudden excitement which Tozers declaration had surprised him into. As it was, tingling with anxiety to hear more of that unknown enchantress, whose presence made sunshine even in the buttermans shop, no indifferent words would find their way to Vincents lips. So he bestowed his attentions instead upon the comfortable supper to which everybody around him, quite unexcited by this little interlude, was doing full justice, and, not venturing to ask, listened with a palpitating heart. You see, Mr. Vincent, resumed Mrs. Tozer, that title of the young Dowager has been given to Lady Western by them as is her chief friends in Carlingford. Such little things comes to our knowledge as they mightnt come to other folks in our situation, by us serving the best families. Theres but two families in Grange Lane as dont deal with Tozer, and one of thems a newcomer as knows no better, and the other a stingy old bachelor, as we wouldnt go across the road to get his custom. A wellkept house must have its butter, and its cheese, and its ham regular; but when theres but a man and a maid, and them nigh as bilious as the master, and picking bits of cheese as one never heard the name of, and as has to be sent to town for, or to the Italian shop, it stands to reason neither me nor Tozer cares for a customer like that. Oh, Ma, what does Mr. Vincent care about the customers? cried Phbe, in despair. He might, then, before alls done, said the deaconess. We couldnt be as good friends to the chapel, nor as serviceable, nor as well thought on in our connection, if it wasnt for the customers. So you see, sir, Lady Western, shes a young lady not a deal older than my Phbe, but by reason of having married an old man, she has a stepson twice as old as herself, and hes married; and so this gay pretty creature here, shes the Dowager Lady Western. Ive seen her with young Lady Western, her stepdaughterinlaw, and young Lady Western was a deal older, and more seriouslooking, and knew twenty times more of life than the Dowagerand you may be sure she dont lose the opportunity to laugh at it neitherand so thats how the name arose. Thank you for the explanation; and I suppose, of course, she lives in Grange Lane, said the pastor, still bending with devotion over his plate. Dear, dear, you dont eat nothink, Mr. Vincent, cried his benevolent hostess; that comes of study, as Im always atelling Tozer. A deal better, says I, to root the minister out, and get him to move about for the good of his health, than to put him up to sermons and coorses, when were all as pleased as Punch to start with. She lives in Grange Lane, to be sure, as they most all do as is anything in Carlingford. Fashions allbut I like a bit of stir and life myself, and couldnt abear them close walls. But it would be news in Salem that we was spending our precious time atalking over a lady like Lady Western; and as for the woman at the back of the chapel, dont you be led away to go to everybody as Mrs. Brown sends you to, Mr. Vincent. Shes a good soul, but shes always apicking up somebody. Tozers been called up at twelve oclock, when we were all abed, to see somebody as was dying; and there was no dying about it, but only Mrs. Browns way. My son, being at his eddication for a minister, makes me feel motherlike to a young pastor, Mr. Vincent. Id be grateful to anybody as would give my boy warning when it comes to be his time. I almost wonder, said Vincent, with a little natural impatience, that you did not struggle on with Mr. Tufton for a little longer, till your sons education was finished. Mrs. Tozer held up her head with gratified pride. Hell be two years before hes ready, and theres never no telling what may happen in that time, said the pleased mother, forgetting how little favourable to her guest was any anticipated contingency. The words were very innocently spoken, but they had their effect upon Vincent. He made haste to extricate himself from the urgent hospitality which surrounded him. He was deafer than ever to Miss Phbes remarks, and listened with a little impatience to Tozers wisdom. As soon as he could manage it, he left them, with abundant material for his thoughts. Theres never no telling what may happen in that time, rang in his ears as he crossed George Street to his lodging, and the young minister could scarcely check the disgust and impatience which were rising in his mind. In all the pride of his young intellect, to be advised by Tozerto have warning stories told him of that unfortunate brother in Parsons Green, whose pretty wife made herself obnoxious to the deacons wivesto have the support afforded by the butterman to the chapel thrown in his face with such an undisguised claim upon his gratitudeoh heaven, was this what Homerton was to come to? Perhaps he had been brought here, in all the young flush of his hopes, only to have the life crushed out of him by those remorseless chapelmanagers, and room made over his tarnished fame and mortified expectationsover his body, as the young man said to himself in unconscious heroicsfor young Tozers triumphant entrance. On the whole, it was not to be supposed that to see himself at the mercy of such a limited and jealous coteriepeople proud of their liberality to the chapel, and altogether unable to comprehend the feelings of a sensitive and cultivated mindcould be an agreeable prospect to the young man. Their very approbation chafed him; and if he went beyond their level, or exceeded their narrow limit, what mercy was he to expect, what justice, what measure of comprehension? He went home with a bitterness of disgust in his mind far more intense and tragical than appeared to be at all necessary in the circumstances, and which only the fact that this was his first beginning in real life, and that his imagination had never contemplated the prominent position of the buttershop and the Devonshire Dairy, in what he fondly called his new sphere, could have justified. Perhaps no new sphere ever came up to the expectations of the neophyte; but to come, if not with too much gospel, yet with an intellectual Christian mission, an evangelist of refined nonconformity, an apostle of thought and religious opinion, and to sink suddenly into coorses of sermons and statistics of seatletting in Saleminto teaparties of deacons wives, and singingclassesinto the complacent society of those good people who were conscious of doing so much for the chapel and supporting the ministerthat was a downfall not to be lightly thought of. Salem itself, and the new pulpit, which had a short time ago represented to poor Vincent that tribune from which he was to influence the world, that point of vantage which was all a true man needed for the making of his career, dwindled into a miserable scene of trade before his disenchanted eyesa preaching shop, where his success was to be measured by the seatletting, and his soul decanted out into periodical issue under the seal of Tozer  Co. Such, alas! were the indignant thoughts with which, the old Adam rising bitter and strong within him, the young Nonconformist hastened home. And She was Lady Westernthe gayest and brightest and highest luminary in all the society of Carlingford. As well love the moon, who no longer descends to Endymion, as lift presumptuous eyes to that sweeter planet which was as much out of reach of the Dissenting minister. Poor fellow! his room did not receive a very cheerful inmate when he shut the door upon the world and sat down with his thoughts. CHAPTER V. IT was about this time, when Mr. Vincent was deeply cast down about his prospects, and saw little comfort before or around him, and when, consequently, an interest apart from himself, and which could detach his thoughts from Salem and its leading members, was of importance, that his mothers letters began to grow specially interesting.


Vincent could not quite explain how it was, but unquestionably those female epistles had expanded all at once; and instead of the limited household atmosphere hitherto breathing in theman atmosphere confined by the strait cottage walls, shutting in the little picture which the absent son knew so well, and in which usually no figure appeared but those of his pretty sister Susan, and their little servant, and a feminine neighbour or twoinstead of those strict household limits, the world, as we have said, had expanded round the widows pen; the cottage walls or windows seemed to have opened out to disclose the universe beyond life itself, and words the symbols of life, seemed quickened and running in a fuller current; and the only apparent reason for all this revolution was that one new acquaintance had interrupted Mrs. Vincents seclusion,one only visitor, who, from an unexpected call, recorded with some wonderment a month or two before, had gained possession of the house apparently, and was perpetually referred toby Susan, in her gradually shortening letters, with a certain timidity and reluctance to pronounce his name; by the mother with growing frequency and confidence. Vincent, a little jealous of this new influence, had out of the depths of his own depression written with some impatience to ask who this Mr. Fordham was, and how he had managed to establish himself so confidentially in the cottage, when his mothers letter astounded him with the following piece of news My dearest Boy,Mr. Fordham is, or at least will beor, if I must be cautious, as your poor dear papa always warned me I shouldwishes very much, and I hope will succeed in beingyour brother, my own Arthur. This is sudden news, but you know, and I have often told you, that a crisis always does seem to arrive suddenly; however much you may have been looking for it, or making up your mind to it, it does come like a blow at the time; and no doubt there is something in human nature to account for it, if I was a philosopher, like your dear papa and you. Yes, my dear boy, that is how it is. Of course, I have known for some time past that he must have had a motiveno mother could long remain ignorant of that; and I cant say but what, liking Mr. Fordham so much, and seeing him every way so unexceptionable, except, perhaps, in the way of means, which we know nothing about, and which I have always thought a secondary consideration to character, as I always brought up my children to think, I was very much pleased. For you know, my dear boy, life is uncertain with the strongest; and I am becoming an old woman, and you will marry no doubt, and what is to become of Susan unless she does the same? So I confess I was pleased to see Mr. Fordhams inclinations showing themselves. And now, dear Arthur, Ive given them my blessing, and they are as happy as ever they can be, and nothing is wanting to Susans joy but your sympathy. I need not suggest to my dear boy to write a few words to his sister to make her feel that he shares our happiness; for Providence has blessed me in affectionate children, and I can trust the instincts of my Arthurs heart; and oh! my dear son, how thankful I ought to be, and how deeply I ought to feel Gods blessings! He has been a father to the fatherless, and the strength of the widow. To think that before old age comes upon me, and while I am still able to enjoy the sight of your prosperity, I should have the happiness of seeing you comfortably settled, and in the way to do your Masters work, and make yourself a good position, and Susan so happily provided for, and instead of losing her, a new son to loveindeed, I am overpowered, and can scarcely hold up my head under my blessings. Write immediately, my dearest boy, that we may have the comfort of your concurrence and sympathy, and I am always, with much love, My Arthurs loving mother, E. S. Vincent. P. S.Mr. Fordhams account of his circumstances seems quite satisfactory. He is not in any profession, but has enough, he says, to live on very comfortably, and is to give me more particulars afterwards; which, indeed, I am ashamed to think he could imagine necessary, as it looks like want of trust, and as if Susans happiness was not the first thing with usbut indeed I must learn to be prudent and selfinterested for your sakes. It was with no such joyful feelings as his mothers that Vincent read this letter. Perhaps it was the jealousy with which he had heard of this unknown Mr. Fordham suddenly jumping into the friendship of the cottage, which made him contemplate with a most glum and suspicious aspect the strangers promotion into the love of Susan, and the motherly regard of Mrs. Vincent. Hang the fellow! who was he? the young minister murmured over his spoiled breakfast and there appeared to him in a halo of sweet memories, as he had never seen them in reality, the simple graces of his pretty sister, who was as much above the region of the Phbe Tozers as that ineffable beauty herself who had seized with a glance the vacant throne of poor Arthur Vincents heart. There was nothing ineffable about Susanbut her brother had seen no man even in Homerton whom he would willingly see master of her affections; and he was equally startled, dissatisfied, and alarmed by this information. Perhaps his mothers unworldliness was excessive. He imagined that he would have exacted more positive information about the fortunes of a stranger who had suddenly appeared without any special business there, who had no profession, and who might disappear lightly as he came, breaking poor Susans heart. Mr. Vincent forgot entirely the natural process by which, doubtless, his mothers affections had been wooed and won as well as Susans. To him it was a stranger who had crept into the house, and gained ascendancy there. Half in concern for Susan, half in jealousy for Susans brother eclipsed, but believing himself to be entirely actuated by the former sentiment, the young minister wrote his mother a hurried, anxious, not too goodtempered note, begging her to think how important a matter this was, and not to come to too rapid a conclusion; and after he had thus relieved his feelings, went out to his days work in a more than usually uncomfortable frame of mind. Mrs. Vincent congratulated herself upon her sons happy settlement, as well as upon her daughters engagement. What if Mr. Fordham should turn out as unsatisfactory as Salem Chapel? His days work was a round of visits, which were not very particularly to Mr. Vincents mind. It was the day for his weekly call upon Mr. Tufton and various other members of the congregation not more attractive; and at Siloam Cottage he was reminded of Mrs. Hilyard, whom he had not seen again. Here at least was something to be found different from the ordinary level. He went up to Back Grove Street, not without a vague expectation in his mind, wondering if that singular stranger would look as unlike the rest of his flock today as she had done on the former occasion. But when Vincent emerged into the narrow street, what was that unexpected object which threw the young man into such sudden agitation? His step quickened unconsciously into the rapid silent stride of excitement. He was at the shabby door before any of the onlookers had so much as perceived him in the street. For once more the narrow pavement owned a little tattered crowd gazing at the pawing horses, the big footman, the heavenly chariot; and doubtless the celestial visitor must be within. Mr. Vincent did not pause to think whether he ought to disturb the interview which, no doubt, was going on upstairs. He left himself no time to consider punctilios, or even to think what was right in the matter. He went up with that swell of excitement somehow winging his feet and making his footsteps light. How sweet that low murmur of conversation within as he reached the door? Another moment, and Mrs. Hilyard herself opened it, looking out with some surprise, her dark thin head, in its black lace kerchief, standing out against the bit of shabby drabcoloured wall visible through the opening of the door. A look of surprise for one moment, then a gleam of something like mirth lighted in the dark eyes, and the thin lines about her mouth moved, though no smile came. It is you, Mr. Vincent?come in, she said. I should not have admitted any other visitor, but you shall come in, as you are my ghostly adviser. Sit down. My dear, this gentleman is my minister and spiritual guide. And She, sitting there in all her splendour, casting extraordinary lights of beauty round her upon the mean apartment, perfuming the air and making it musical with that rustle of womans robes which had never been out of poor Vincents ears since he saw her first;She lifted her lovely face, smiled, and bowed her beautiful head to the young man, who could have liked to go down on his knees, not to ask anything, but simply to worship. As he dared not do that, he sat down awkwardly upon the chair Mrs. Hilyard pointed to, and said, with embarrassment, that he feared he had chosen a wrong time for his visit, and would return againbut nevertheless did not move from where he was. No, indeed; I am very glad to see you. My visitors are not so many, nowadays, that I can afford to turn one from the door because another chooses to come the same day. My dear, you understand Mr. Vincent has had the goodness to take charge of my spiritual affairs, said the mistress of the room, sitting down, in her dark poor dress, beside her beautiful visitor, and laying her thin hands, still marked with traces of the coarse blue colour which rubbed off her work, and of the scars of the needle, upon the table where that work lay. Thank heaven thats a luxury the poorest of us needs not deny herself. I liked your sermon last Sunday, Mr. Vincent. That about the fashion of treating serious things with levity, was meant for me. Oh, I didnt dislike it, thank you! One is pleased to think ones self of so much consequence. There are more ways of keeping up ones amour propre than your way, my lady. Now, dont you mean to go? You see I cannot possibly unburden my mind to Mr. Vincent while you are here. Did you ever hear anything so rude? said the beauty, turning graciously to the young minister. You call me a great lady, and all sorts of things, Rachel; but I never could be as rude as you are, and as you always were as long as I remember. My dear, the height of goodbreeding is to be perfectly illbred when one pleases, said Mrs. Hilyard, taking her work upon her knee and putting on her thimble but though you are wonderfully pretty, you never had the makings of a thorough fine lady in you. You cant help trying to please everybodywhich, indeed, if there were no women in the world, added that sharp observer, with a sudden glance at Vincent, who saw the thin lines again move about her mouth, you might easily do without giving yourself much trouble. Mr. Vincent, if this lady wont leave us, might I trouble you to talk? For two strains of thought, carried on at the same moment, now that Im out of society, are too exhausting for me. With which speech she gravely pinned her work to her knee, threaded her needle with a long thread of blue cotton, and began her work with the utmost composure, leaving her two visitors in the awkward ttette position which the presence of a third person, entirely absorbed in her own employment, with eyes and face abstracted, naturally produces. Never in his life had Vincent been so anxious to appear to advantagenever had he been so totally deprived of the use of his faculties. His eager looks, his changing colour, perhaps interceded for him with the beautiful stranger, who was not ignorant of those signs of subjugation which she saw so often. I think it was you that were so good as to clear the way for me the last time I was here, she said, with the sweetest grace, raising those lovely eyes, which put even Tozer beside himself, to the unfortunate pastors face. I remember fancying you must be a stranger here, as I had not seen you anywhere in society. Those wonderful little wretches never seem to come to any harm. They always appear to me to be scrambling among the horses feet. Fancy, Rachel, one of those boys who flourish in the back streets, with such ragsoh, such rags!you could not possibly make them, if you were to try, with scissorssuch perfection must come of itself;had just pushed in before me, and I dont know what I should have done, if Mr.  (I beg your pardon)if you had not cleared the way. Mr. Vincent, said Mrs. Hilyard breaking in upon Vincents deprecation. I am glad to hear you had somebody to help you in such a delicate distress. We poor women cant afford to be so squeamish. What! are you going away? My dear, be sure you say downstairs that you brought that poor creature some tea and sugar, and how grateful she was. That explains everything, you know, and does my lady credit at the same time. Goodbye. Well, Ill kiss you if you insist upon it; but what can Mr. Vincent think to see such an operation performed between us? There! my love, you can make the men do what you like, but you know of old you never could conquer me. Then you will refuse over and over againand you dont mind what I sayand you know hes in Lonsdale, and why hes there, and all about him Hush, said the dark woman, looking all the darker as she stood in that bright creatures shadow. I know, and always will know, wherever he goes, and that he is after evil wherever he goes; and I refuse, and always will refuseand my darling pretty Alice, she cried, suddenly going up with rapid vehemence to the beautiful young woman beside her, and kissing once more the delicate rosecheek to which her own made so great a contrast, I dont mind in the least what you say. Ah, Rachel, I dont understand you, said Lady Western, looking at her wistfully. You never did, my dear; but dont forget to mention about the tea and sugar as you go downstairs, said Mrs. Hilyard, subsiding immediately, not without the usual gleam in her eyes and movement of her mouth, else it might be supposed you came to have your fortune told, or something like that; and I wish your ladyship bon voyage, and no encounter with ragged boys in your way. Mr. Vincent, she continued, with great gravity, standing in the middle of the room, when Vincent, trembling with excitement, afraid, with the embarrassing timidity of inferior position, to offer his services, yet chafing in his heart to be obliged to stay, reluctantly closed the door, which he had opened for Lady Westerns exit, tell me why a young man of your spirit loses such an opportunity of conducting the greatest beauty in Carlingford to her carriage? Suppose she should come across another ragged boy, and faint on the stairs? I should have been only too happy; but as I am not so fortunate as to know Lady Western, said the young minister, hesitating, I feared to presume With an entirely changed aspect his strange companion interrupted him. Lady Western could not think that any man whom she met in my house presumed in offering her a common civility, said Mrs. Hilyard, with the air of a duchess, and an imperious gleam out of her dark eyes. Then she recollected herself, gave her startled visitor a comical look, and dropped into her chair, before which that coarsest of poor needlewomans work was lying. My house! it does look like a place to inspire respect, to be sure, she continued, with a hearty perception of the ludicrous, which Vincent was much too preoccupied to notice. What fools we all are! but, my dear Mr. Vincent, you are too modest. My Lady Western could not frown upon anybody who honoured her with such a rapt observation. Dont fall in love with her, I beg of you. If she were merely a flirt, I shouldnt mind, but out of her very goodness shes dangerous. She cant bear to give pain to anybody, which of course implies that she gives double and treble pain when the time comes. There! Ive warned you; for of course youll meet again. Small chance of that, said Vincent, who had been compelling himself to remain quiet, and restraining his impulse, now that the vision had departed, to rush away out of the impoverished place. Small chance of that, he repeated, drawing a long breath, as he listened with intent ears to the roll of the carriage which carried Her away; society in Carlingford has no room for a poor Dissenting minister. All the better for him, said Mrs. Hilyard, regarding him with curious looks, and discerning with female acuteness the haze of excitement and incipient passion which surrounded him. Societys all very well for people who have been brought up in it; but for a young recluse like you, that dont know the world, its murder. Dont look affronted. The reason is, you expect too muchtwenty times more than anybody ever finds. But you dont attend to my philosophy. Thinking of your sermon, Mr. Vincent? And how is our friend the butterman? I trust life begins to look more cheerful to you under his advice. Life? said the preoccupied minister, who was gazing at the spot where that lovely apparition had been; I find it change its aspects perpetually. You spoke of Lonsdale just now, did you not? Is it possible that you know that little place? My mother and sister live there. I am much interested to know that you have a mother and sister, said the poor needlewoman before him, looking up with calm, finelady impertinence in his face. But you did not hear me speak of Lonsdale; it was her ladyship who mentioned it. As for me, I interest myself in what is going on close by, Mr. Vincent. I am quite absorbed in the chapel; I want to know how you get on, and all about it. I took that you said on Sunday about levity deeply to heart. I entertain a fond hope that you will see me improve under your ministrations, even though I may never come up to the buttermans standard. Some people have too high an ideal. If you are as much of an optimist as your respected deacon, I fear it will be ages before I can manage to make you approve of me. Vincents wandering thoughts were recalled a little by this attack. I hope, he said, rousing himself, that you dont think me so inexperienced as not to know that you are laughing at me? But indeed I should be glad to believe that the services at the chapel might sometimes perhaps be some comfort to you, added the young pastor, assuming the dignity of his office. He met his penitents eyes at the moment, and faltered, moonstruck as he was, wondering if she saw through and through him, and knew that he was neither thinking of consolation nor of clerical duties, but only of those lingering echoes which, to any ears but his own, were out of hearing. There was little reason to doubt the acute perceptions of that halfamused, halfmalicious glance. Comfort! she cried; what a very strange suggestion to make! Why, all the old churches in all the old ages have offered comfort. I thought you new people had something better to give us; enlightenment, she said, with a gleam of secret mockery, throwing the word like a stonereligious freedom, private judgment. Depend upon it, that is the rle expected from you by the butterman. Comfort! one has that in Rome. You never can have that but in conjunction with truth, and truth is not to be found in Rome, said Vincent, pricking up his ears at so familiar a challenge. Well not argue, though you do commit yourself by an assertion, said Mrs. Hilyard; but oh, you innocent young man, where is the comfort to come from? Comfort will not let your seats and fill your chapel, even granting that you knew how to communicate it. I prefer to be instructed, for my part. You are just at the age, and in the circumstances, to do that. I fear you still speak in jest, said the minister, with some doubt, yet a little gratification; but I shall be only too happy to have been the means of throwing any light to you upon the doctrines of our faith. For a moment the dark eyes gleamed with something like laughter. But there was nothing illnatured in the amusement with which his strange new friend contemplated the young pastor in the depressions and confidences of his youth. She answered with a mock gravity which, at that moment, he was by no means clearsighted enough to see through. Yes, she said, demurely, be sure you take advantage of your opportunities, and instruct us as long as you have any faith in instruction. Leave consolation to another time but you dont attend to me, Mr. Vincent; come another day come on Monday, when I shall be able to criticise your sermons, and we shall have no Lady Western to put us out. These beauties are confusing, dont you think? Only, I entreat you, whatever you do, dont fall in love with her; and now, since I know you wish it, you may go away. Vincent stammered a faint protest as he accepted his dismissal, but rose promptly, glad to be released. Another thought, however, seemed to strike Mrs. Hilyard as she shook hands with him. Do your mother and sister in Lonsdale keep a school? she said. Nay, pray dont look affronted. Clergymens widows and daughters very often do in the Church. I meant no impertinence in this case. They dont? well, that is all I wanted to know. I daresay they are not likely to be in the way of dangerous strangers. Goodbye; and you must come again on Monday, when I shall be alone. Butdangerous strangersmay I ask you to explain? said Vincent, with a little alarm, instinctively recurring to his threatened brotherinlaw, and the news which had disturbed his composure that morning before he came out. I cant explain; and you would not be any the wiser, said Mrs. Hilyard, peremptorily. Now, good morning. I am glad they dont keep a school; because, you know, she added, looking full into his eyes, as if defying him to make any meaning out of her words, it is very tiresome, tedious work, and wears poor ladies out. There!goodbye; next day you come I shall be very glad to see you, and well have no fine ladies to put us out. Vincent had no resource but to let himself out of the shabby little room which this strange woman inhabited as if it had been a palace. The momentary alarm roused by her last words, and the state of half offence, half interest, into which, notwithstanding his preoccupation, she had managed to rouse him, died away, however, as he reentered the poor little street, which was now a road in Fairyland instead of a lane in Carlingford, to his rapt eyes. Golden traces of those celestial wheels surely lingered still upon the way, they still went rolling and echoing over the poor young ministers heart, which he voluntarily threw down before that heavenly car of Juggernaut. Every other impression faded out of his mind, and the infatuated young man made no effort of resistance, but hugged the enchanted chain. He had seen Herspoken with Herhenceforward was of her acquaintance. He cast reason to the winds, and probability, and every convention of life. Did anybody suppose that all the world leagued against him could prevent him from seeing her again? He went home with an unspeakable elation, longing, and excitement, and at the same time with a vain floating idea in his mind that, thus inspired, no height of eloquence was impossible to him, and that triumph of every kind was inevitable. He went home, and got his writingdesk, and plunged into his lecture, nothing doubting that he could transfer to his work that glorious tumult of his thoughts; and, with his paper before him, wrote three words, and sat three hours staring into the roseate air, and dreaming dreams as wild as any Arabian tale. Such was the first effort of that chance encounter, in which the personages were not Lady Western and the poor Dissenting minister, but Beauty and Love, perennial hero and heroine of the romance that never ends. CHAPTER VI. IT was only two days after this eventful meeting that Vincent, idling and meditative as was natural in such a condition of mind, strayed into Masterss shop to buy some books. It would have been difficult for him to have explained why he went there, except, perhaps, because it was the last place in the world which his masters at the chapel would have advised him to enter. For there was another bookseller in the town, an evangelical man, patronised by Mr. Bury, the whilom rector, where all the Tract Societys publications were to be had, not to speak of a general range of literature quite wide enough for the minister of Salem. Masterss was a branch of the London Master's, and, as might be supposed, was equally amazed and indignant at the intrusion of a Dissenter among its consecrated bookshelves. He was allowed to turn over all the varieties of the Christian Year on a sidetable before any of the attendants condescended to notice his presence; and it proved so difficult to find the books he wanted, and so much more difficult to find anybody who would take the trouble of looking for them, that the young Nonconformist, who was sufficiently ready to take offence, began to get hot and impatient, and had all but strode out of the shop, with a new mortification to record to the disadvantage of Carlingford. But just as he began to get very angry, the door swung softly open, and a voice became audible, lingering, talking to somebody before entering. Vincent stopped speaking, and stared in the shopmans astonished face when these tones came to his ear. He fell back instantly upon the sidetable and the Christian Year, forgetting his own business, and what he had been sayingforgetting everything except that She was there, and that in another moment they would stand again within the same walls. He bent over the muchmultiplied volume with a beating heart, poising in one hand a tiny miniature copy just made to slip within the pocket of an Anglican waistcoat, and in the other the big redleaved and moroccobound edition, as if weighing their respective meritsput beside himself, in fact, if the truth must be told, oblivious of his errand, his positionof everything but the fact that She was at the door. She came in with a sweet flutter and rustle of sound, a perfumed air entering with her, as the unsuspected enthusiast thought, and began to lavish smiles, for which he would have given half his life, upon the people of the place, who flew to serve her. She had her tablets in her hand, with a list of what she wanted, and held up a dainty forefinger as she stood reading the items. As one thing after another was mentioned, Masters and his men darted off in search of it. There were fortunately enough to give each of them a separate errand, and the principal ranged his shining wares upon the counter before her, and bathed in her smiles, while all his satellites kept close at hand, listening with all their ears for another commission. Blessed Masters! happy shopmen! that one who looked so blank when Vincent stopped short at the sound of her voice and stared at him, had forgotten all about Vincent. She was there; and if a little impromptu litany would have pleased her ladyship, it is probable that it could have been got up on the spot after the best models, and that even the Nonconformist would have waived his objections to liturgical worship and led the responses. But Masterss establishment offered practical homageonly the poor Dissenting minister, divided between eagerness and fear, stood silent, flushed with excitement, turning wistful looks upon her, waiting till perhaps she might turn round and see him, and letting fall out of his trembling fingers those unregarded editions of the Anglican lyre. And two copies of the Christian Year, said Lady Western, suddenly. Oh, thank you so much! but I know they are all on the sidetable, and I shall go and look at them. Not the very smallest copy, Mr. Masters, and not that solemn one with the red edges; something pretty, with a little ornament and gilding they are for two little proteges of mine. Oh, here is exactly what I want! another one like this, please. How very obliging all your people are, said her ladyship, benignly, as the nearest man dashed off headlong to bring what she wantedbut I think it is universal in Carlingford; and indeed the manners of our country people in general have improved very much of late. Dont you think so? oh, there cant be a question about it! I beg your ladyships pardon, I am sure; but perhaps, my lady, it is not safe to judge the general question from your ladyships point of view, said the polite bookseller, with a bow. Oh, pray dont say so; I should be wretched if I thought you took more trouble for me than for other people, said the young Dowager, with a sweetness which filled Vincents heart with jealous pangs. She was close by his sideso close that those sacred robes rustled in his very ear, and her shawl brushed his sleeve. The poor young man took off his hat in a kind of ecstasy. If she did not notice him, what did it matter?silent adoration, speechless homage, could not affront a queen. And it was happily very far from affronting Lady Western. She turned round with a little curiosity, and looked up in his face. Oh, Mr.Mr. Vincent, cried the beautiful creature, brightening in recognition. How do you do? I suppose you are a resident in Carlingford now, are not you? Pardon me, that I did not see you when I came in. How very, very good it is of you to go and see mymy friend! Did you ever see anything so dreadful as the place where she lives? and isnt she an extraordinary creature? Thank you, Mr. Masters; thats exactly what I want. I do believe she might have been Lord Chancellor, or something, if she had not been a woman, said the enchantress, once more lifting her lovely eyes with an expression of awe to Vincents face. She seems a very remarkable person, said Vincent. To see her where she is, makes one feel how insignificant are the circumstances of life. Really! now, how do you make out that? said Lady Western; for, to tell the truth, I think, when I see her, oh, how important they are! and that Id a great deal rather die than live so. But you clever people take such strange views of things. Now tell me how you make that out? Nay, said Vincent, lowering his voice with a delicious sense of having a subject to be confidential upon, you know what conditions of existence all her surroundings imply; yet the most ignorant could not doubt for a moment her perfect superiority to thema superiority so perfect, he added, with a sudden insight which puzzled even himself, that it is not necessary to assert it. Oh, to be sure, said Lady Western, colouring a little, and with a momentary hauteur, of course a Russell I mean a gentlewomanmust always look the same to a certain extent; but, alas! I am only a very commonplace little woman, continued the beauty, brightening into those smiles which perhaps might be distributed too liberally, but which intoxicated for the moment every man on whom they fell. I think those circumstances which you speak of so disrespectfully are everything! I have not a great soul to triumph over them. I should break down, or they would overcome meoh, you need not shake your head! I know I am right so far as I myself am concerned. Indeed I cannot think so, said the intoxicated young man; you would make any circumstances What? But the bewildered youth made no direct reply. He only gazed at her, grew very red, and said, suddenly, I beg your pardon, stepping back in confusion, like the guilty man he was. The lady blushed, too, as her inquiring eyes met that unexpected response. Used as she was to adoration, she felt the silent force of the compliment withheldit was a thousand times sweeter in its delicate suggestiveness and reserve of incense than any effusion of words. They were both a little confused for the moment, poor Vincents momentary betrayal of himself having somehow suddenly dissipated the array of circumstances which surrounded and separated two persons so far apart from each other in every conventional aspect.


The first to regain her place and composure was of course Lady Western, who made him a pretty playful curtsy, and broke into a low, sweet ring of laughter. Now I shall never know whether you meant to be complimentary or contemptuous, cried the young Dowager, which is hard upon a creature with such a love of approbation as our friend says I have. However, I forgive you, if you meant to be very cutting, for her sake. It is so very kind of you to go to see her, and I am sure she enjoys your visits. Thank you, Mr. Masters, that is all. Have you got the two copies of the Christian Year? Put them into the carriage, please. Mr. Vincent, I am going to have the last of my summerparties next Thursdaytwelve oclock; will you come?only a cup of coffee, you know, or tea if you prefer it, and talk au discretion. I shall be happy to see you, and I have some nice friends, and one or two good pictures; so there you have an account of all the attractions my house can boast of. Do come it will be my last party this season, and I rather want it to be a great success, said the syren, looking up with her sweet eyes. Vincent could not tell what answer he made in his rapture; but the next thing he was properly conscious of was the light touch of her hand upon his arm as he led her to her carriage, some sudden courageous impulse having prompted him to secure for himself that momentary blessedness. He walked forth in a dream, conducting that heavenly vision and there, outside, stood the celestial chariot with those pawing horses, and the children standing round with open mouth to watch the lovely ladys progress. It was he who put her in with such pride and humbleness as perhaps only a generous but inexperienced young man, suddenly surprised into passion, could be capable ofready to kiss the hem of her garment, or do any other preposterous act of homageand just as apt to blaze up into violent selfassertion should any man attempt to humble him who had been thus honoured. While he stood watching the carriage out of sight, Masters himself came out to tell the young Nonconformist, whose presence that dignified tradesman had been loftily unconscious of a few minutes before, that they had found the book he wanted; and Vincent, thrilling in every pulse with the unlookedfor blessedness which had befallen him, was not sorry, when he dropped out of the clouds at the booksellers accost, to reenter that place where this enchantment still hovered, by way of calming himself down ere he returned to those prose regions which were his own lawful habitation. He saw vaguely the books that were placed on the counter before himheard vaguely the polite purling of Masterss voice, allsolicitous to make up for the momentary incivility with which he had treated a friend of Lady Westernsand was conscious of taking out his purse and paying something for the volume, which he carried away with him. But the book might have been Sanscrit for anything Mr. Vincent caredand he would have paid any fabulous price for it with the meekest resignation. His attempt to appear moderately interested, and to conduct this common transaction as if he had all his wits about him, was sufficient occupation just at this moment. His head was turned. There should have been roses blossoming all along the bare pavement of George Street to account for the sweet gleams of light which warmed the entire atmosphere as he traversed that commonplace way. Not only the interview just passed, but the meeting to come, bewildered him with an intoxicating delight. Here, then, was the society he had dreamed of, opening its perfumed doors to receive him. From Mrs. Tozers suppertable to the bowery gates of Grange Lane was a jump which, ten days ago, would of itself have made the young minister giddy with satisfaction and pleasure. Now these calm emotions had ceased to move him; for not society, but a sweeter syren, had thrown chains of gold round the unsuspecting Nonconformist. With Her, Back Grove Street was Paradise. Where her habitation was, or what he should see there, was indifferent to Vincent. He was again to meet Herself. CHAPTER VII. THE days which intervened between this meeting and Lady Westerns party were spent in a way which the managers of Salem would have been far from approving of. Mr. Vincent, indeed, was rapt out of himself, out of his work, out of all the ordinary regions of life and thought. When he sat down to his sermons, his pen hung idly in his hand, and his mind, wilfully cheating itself by that semblance of study, went off into long delicious reveries, indescribable, intangiblea secret sweet intoxication which forbade labour, yet nourished thought. Though he sometimes did not write a word in an hour, so deep was the aspect of studiousness displayed by the young pastor at his writingdesk, and so entire the silence he maintained in his room, shut up in that world of dreams which nobody knew anything of, that his landlady, who was one of his hearers, communicated the fact to Tozer, and expatiated everywhere upon the extreme devotion to study displayed by the new minister. Old Mr. Tufton, who had been in the habit of putting together the disjointed palaver which he called a sermon on the Saturday morning, shook his head over the information, and doubted that his young brother was resorting more to carnal than to spiritual means of filling his chapel; but the members of Salem generally heard the rumour with pride, and felt a certain distinction accrue to themselves from the possibility that their pastor might ruin his health by overstudy. It was a new sensation in Salem; and the news, as it was whispered about, certainly came to the ears of a few of those young men and thinkers, principally poor lawyers clerks and drapers assistants, whom Tozer was so anxious to reach, and drew two or three doubtful, genteel hearers to the chapel, where Mr. Vincents sermon, though no better than usual, and in reality dashed off at the last moment in sheer desperation, when necessity momentarily thrust the dreams away, was listened to with a certain awe and devout attention, solely due to the toil it was reported to have cost. The young minister himself came out of the pulpit remorseful and ashamed, feeling that he had neglected his duty, and thoroughly disgusted with the superficial production, just lighted up with a few fiery sentences of that eloquence which belongs to excitement and passion, which he had just delivered. But Tozer and all the deacons buzzed approbation. They were penetrated with the conviction that he had worked hard at his sermon, and given them his best, and were not to be undeceived by the quality of the work itself, which was a secondary matter. More deeply disgusted and contemptuous than ever was the young pastor at the end of that Sundaydisgusted with himself to have done his work so poorlycontemptuous of those who were pleased with ithis heart swelling with mortified pride to think that what he thought so unworthy of him was more appreciated than his best efforts. For he did not know the report that had gone abroad; he did not know that, while brooding over his own rising passion, and absorbed in dreams with which Salem had nothing to do, the little world around him was complacently giving him credit for a purpose of wearing himself out in its behalf. The sermons so hastily written, thrust into a corner by the overpowering enchantment of those reveries, were not the only sin he had to charge against himself. He could not bring himself to bear the irksome society that surrounded him, in the state of elevation and excitement he was in. Tozer was unendurable, and Phbe to be avoided at all costs. He did not even pay his promised visit to Mrs. Hilyard, nor go to Siloam Cottage as usual. In short, he spent the days in a kind of dream, avoiding all his duties, paying no visits, doing no pastoral work, neglecting the very sermon over which his landlady saw him hanging so many silent hours, without knowing that all the vacant atmosphere between him and that blank sheet of paper, in which she saw nothing, was peopled with fairy visitants and unreal scenes to the dreamy eyes of her lodger. Such were the first effects of Circes cup upon the young minister. He indulged himself consciously, with apologetic selfremonstrances, as Thursday approached. After that day, life was to go on as usual. Nonot as usualwith a loftier aim and a higher inspiration; but the season of dreams was to be over when he had real admittance into that Eden garden, where the woman of all women wandered among her flowers. He thought what he was to say to her on that eventful dayhow he should charm her into interest in his difficulties, and beautify his office, and the barren spot in which he exercised it, with her sympathy. He imagined himself possessed of her ear, certain of a place by her side, a special guest of her own election. He was not vain, nor deeply persuaded of his own importance; yet all this seemed only natural to his excited imagination. He saw himself by her side in that garden of beatitudes, disclosing to her all that was in his heart; instinctively he recalled all that the poets have said of woman the consolerwoman the inspirer. When he had gained that priceless sympathy, what glorious amends he should make for the few days indolence to which he now gave way! Thus in his inexperience he went on, preparing for himself, as any one a little wiser could have seen at a glance, one of the bitterest disappointments of early life. Thursday came, a day of dayssuch a day as people reckon by, months after; a soft and bright autumnal morning, breathing like spring. As Vincent issued from his own door and took his way along George Street to Grange Lane, he saw the curate of St. Roques walking before him in the same direction; but Mr. Wentworth himself was not more orthodoxly clerical in every detail of his costume than was the young Nonconformist, who was going, not to Lady Westerns breakfastparty, but into the Bower of Bliss, the fools paradise of his youth. Mr. Wentworth, it is true, was to see Lucy Wodehouse there, and was a true lover; but he walked without excitement to the green gate which concealed from him no enchanted world of delights, but only a familiar garden, with every turn of which he was perfectly acquainted, and which, even when Lucy was by his side, contained nothing ineffable or ecstatic. It was, to tell the truth, an autumnal garden, bright enough still with scarlet gleams of geranium and verbena, with a lawn of velvet smoothness, and no great diminution as yet in the shade of the acacias and limetrees, and everything in the most perfect order in the trim shrubberies, through the skilful mazes of which some bright groups were already wandering, when Vincent passed through to the sunny open door. At the open windows within he could see other figures in a pleasant flutter of gay colour and light drapery, as he advanced breathless to take his own place in that unknown world. He heard his own name announced, and went in, with a chill of momentary doubt upon his high expectations, into the airy sunshiny room, with its gay, brilliant, rustling crowd, the ladies all bright and fresh in their pretty morningdresses, and the din of talk and laughter confusing his unaccustomed ears. For a moment the stranger stood embarrassed, looking round him, eagerly investigating the crowd for that one face, which was not only the sole face of woman in the world so far as he was concerned, but in reality the only face he knew in the gay party, where everybody except himself knew everybody else. Then he saw her, and his doubts were over. When she perceived him, she made a few steps forward to meet him and held out her hand. I am so glad to see youhow kind of you to come! said Lady Western; and such a beautiful dayjust what I wanted for my last fte. Have you seen my friend again since I saw you, Mr. Vincentquite well, I hope? Now, do have some coffee.How do you do, Mr. Wentworth? You have been here full five minutes, and you have never paid your respects to me. Even under the circumstances, you know, one cannot overlook such neglect. I am too deeply flattered that your ladyship should have observed my entrance to be able to make any defence, said the curate of St. Roques, who could speak to her as to any ordinary woman; but as for circumstances Oh dear, yes, we all know, cried Lady Western, with her sweet laugh. Was it you, Mr. Vincent, who were saying that circumstances were everything in life?oh, no, I beg your pardon, quite the reverse. I remember it struck me as odd and clever. Now, I daresay, you two could quite settle that question. I am such an ignoramus. So kind of you to come! Vincent was about to protest his delight in coming, and to deprecate the imputation of kindness, but ere he had spoken three words, he suddenly came to a stop, perceiving that not only Lady Westerns attention but her ear was lost, and that already another candidate for her favour had possession of the field. He stepped back into the gay assembly, disturbing one group, the members of which all turned to look at him with wellbred curiosity. He stood quite alone and silent for some time, waiting if, perhaps, he could catch the eye of Lady Western. But she was surrounded, swept away, carried off even from his neighbourhood, while he stood gazing. And here was he left, out of the sunshine of her presence in the midst of Carlingford society, knowing nobody, while every face smiled and every tongue was busy but his own talk au discretion! such there certainly wasbut Vincent had never in his life felt so preposterously alone, so dismally silent, so shut up in himself. If he had come to woo society, doubtless he could have plucked up a spirit, and made a little effort for his object. But he had come to see Her, flattering himself with vain dreams of securing her to himselfof wandering by her side through those gardenpaths, of keeping near her whenever she movedand the dream had intoxicated him more deeply than even he himself was aware of. Now he woke to his sober wits with a chill of mortification and disappointment not to be expressed. He stood silent, following her with his eyes as she glided about from one corner to the other of the crowded room. He had neither eyes nor ears for anything else. Beautiful as she had always been, she was lovelier than ever today, with her fair head uncovered and unadorned, her beautiful hair glancing in the gleams of sunshine, her tiny hands ungloved. Poor Vincent drew near a window, when it dawned upon his troubled perception that he was standing amidst all those chattering, laughing people, a silent statue of disappointment and dismay, and from that little refuge watched her as she made her progress. And, alas! Lady Western assured everybody that they were so kind to comeshe distributed her smiles, her kind words, everywhere. She beamed upon the old men and the young, the handsome and the stupid, with equal sweetness. After a while, as he stood watching, Vincent began to melt in his heart. She was hostessshe had the partys pleasure to think of, not her own. If he could but help her, bring himself to her notice again in some other way! Vincent made another step out of his window, and looked out eagerly with shy scrutiny. Nobody wanted his help. They stared at him, and whispered questions who he was. When he at length nerved himself to speak to his next neighbour, he met with a courteous response and no more. Society was not cruel, or repulsive, or severely exclusive, but simply did not know him, could not make out who he was, and was busy talking that conversation of a limited sphere full of personal allusions into which no stranger could enter. Instead of the ineffable hour he expected, an embarrassing, unbearable tedium was the lot of the poor Dissenting minister by himself among the beauty, wit, and fashion of Carlingford. He would have stolen away but for the forlorn hope that things might mendthat Lady Western might return, and that the sunshine he had dreamed of would yet fall upon him. But no such happiness came to the unfortunate young minister. After a while, a perfectly undistinguished middleaged individual charitably engaged Mr. Vincent in conversation; and as they talked, and while the young mans eager wistful eyes followed into every new combination of the little crowd that one fair figure which had bewitched him, it became apparent that the company was flowing forth into the garden. At last Vincent stopped short in the languid answer he was making to his respectable interlocutor with a sudden start and access of impatience. The brilliant room had suddenly clouded over. She had joined her guests outside. With bitterness, and a sharp pang at his heart, Vincent looked round and wondered to find himself in the house, in the company, from which she had gone. What business had he there? No link of connection existed between him and this little world of unknown people except herself. She had brought him here; she alone knew even so much of him as his name. He had not an inch of ground to stand on in the little alien assembly when she was not there. He broke off his conversation with his unknown sympathiser abruptly, and rushed out, meaning to leave the place. But somehow, fascinated still, in a hundred different moods a minute, when he got outside, he too lingered about the paths, where he continually met with groups and stray couples who stared at him, and wondered again, sometimes not inaudibly, who he was. He met her at last under the shadow of the limetrees with a train of girls about her, and a following of eager male attendants. When he came forward lonely to make his farewell, with a look in which he meant to unite a certain indignation and reproach with still chivalrous devotion, the unconscious beauty met him with unabated sweetness, held out her hand as before, and smiled the most radiant of smiles. Are you going to leave us already? she said, in a tone which half persuaded the unlucky youth to stay till the last moment, and swallow all his mortifications. So sorry you must go away so soon! and I wanted to show you my pictures too. Another time, I hope, we may have better fortune. When you come to me again, you must really be at leisure, and have no other engagements. Goodbye! It was so kind of you to come, and I am so sorry you cant stay! In another minute the green door had opened and closed, the fairy vision was gone, and poor Vincent stood in Grange Lane between the two blank lines of gardenwall, come back to the common daylight after a weeks vain wandering in the enchanted grounds, half stupefied, half maddened by the disappointment and downfall. He made a momentary pause at the door, gulped down the big indignant sigh that rose in his throat, and, with a quickened step and a heightened colour, retraced his steps along a road which no longer gleamed with any rosy reflections, but was harder, more real, more matteroffact than ever it had looked before. What a fool he had been, to be led into such a false position!to be cheated of his peace, and seduced from his duty, and intoxicated into such absurdities of hope, all by the gleam of a bright eye, and the sound of a sweet voice! He who had never known the weakness before, to cover himself with ridicule, and compromise his dignity so entirely for the sake of the first beautiful woman who smiled upon him! Poor Vincent! He hurried to his rooms thrilling with projects, schemes, and sudden vindictive ambition. That fair creature should learn that the young Nonconformist was worthy of her notice. Those selfengrossed simperers should yet be startled out of their follies by the new fame rising up amongst them. Who was he, did they ask? One day they should know. That the young man should despise himself for this outbreak of injured feeling, as soon as he had cooled down, was inevitable; but it took some considerable time to cool down; and in the mean time his resolution rose and swelled into that heroic region which youth always attains so easily. He thought himself disenchanted for ever. That night, in bitter earnest, he burned the midnight oilthat night his pen flew over the paper with outbreaks, sometimes indignant, sometimes pathetic, on subjects as remote as possible from Lady Westerns breakfastparty; and with a sudden revulsion he bethought himself of Salem and its oligarchy, which just now prophesied so much good of their new minister. He accepted Salem with all the heat of passion at that moment. His be the task to raise it and its pastor into a common fame! CHAPTER VIII. THE events above narrated were all prefatory of the great success accomplished by Mr. Vincent in Carlingford. Indeed, the date of the young ministers famefame which, as everybody acquainted with that town must be aware, was widely diffused beyond Carlingford itself, and even reached the metropolis, and gladdened his Alma Mater at Homertonmight almost be fixed by a reference to Lady Westerns housekeeping book, if she kept any, and the date of her last summerparty. That event threw the young Nonconformist into just the state of mind which was wanted to quicken all the prejudices of his education, and give individual force to all the hereditary limits of thought in which he had been born. An attempt on the part of the Government to repeal the Toleration Act, or reinstate the Test, could scarcely have produced a more permanent and rapid effect than Lady Westerns neglect, and the total ignorance of Mr. Vincent displayed by polite society in Carlingford. No shame to him. It was precisely the same thing in private life which the other would have been in public. Repeal of the Toleration Act, or reenactment of the Test, are things totally impossible; and when persecution is not to be apprehended or hoped for, where but in the wrongs of a privileged class can the true zest of dissidence be found? Mr. Vincent, who had received his dissenting principles as matters of doctrine, took up the familiar instruments now with a rush of private feeling. He was not conscious of the power of that sentiment of injury and indignation which possessed him. He believed in his heart that he was but returning, after a temporary hallucination, to the true duties of his post; but the fact was, that this wound in the tenderest pointthis general slight and indifferencepricked him forward in all that force of personal complaint which gives warmth and piquancy to a public grievance. The young man said nothing of Lady Western even to his dearest friendtried not to think of her except by way of imagining how she should one day hear of him, and know his name when it possessed a distinction which neither the perpetual curate of St. Roques, nor any other figure in that local world, dared hope for. But with fiery zeal he flew to the question of Church and State, and set forth the wrongs which Christianity sustained from endowment, and the heinous evils of rich livings, episcopal palaces, and spiritual lords. It was no mean or ungenerous argument which the young Nonconformist pursued in his fervour of youth and wounded selfregard. It was the natural cry of a man who had entered life at disadvantage, and chafed, without knowing it, at all the phalanx of orders and classes above him, standing close in order to prevent his entrance. With eloquent fervour he expatiated upon the kingdom that was not of this world. If these words were true, what had the Church to do with worldly possessions, rank, dignities, power? Was his Grace of Lambeth more like Paul the tentmaker than his Holiness of Rome? Mr. Vincent went into the whole matter with genuine conviction, and confidence in his own statements. He believed and had been trained in it. In his heart he was persuaded that he himself, oft disgusted and much misunderstood in his elected place at Salem Chapel, ministered the gospel more closely to his Masters appointment than the rector of Carlingford, who was nominated by a college; or the curate of St. Roques, who had his forty pounds ayear from a tiny ancient endowment, and was spending his own little fortune on his church and district. These men had joined God and mammonthey were in the pay of the State. Mr. Vincent thundered forth the lofty censures of an evangelist whom the State did not recognise, and with whom mammon had little enough to do. He brought forth all the weapons out of the Homerton armoury, new, bright, and dazzling; and he did not know any more than his audience that he never would have wielded them so heartilyperhaps would scarcely have taken them off the wallbut for the sudden sting with which his own inferior place, and the existence of a privileged class doubly shut against his entrance, had quickened his personal consciousness. Such, however, was the stimulus which woke the minister of Salem Chapel into action, and produced that series of lectures on Church and State which, as everybody knows, shook society in Carlingford to its very foundation. Now weve got a young man as is a credit to us, said Tozer; and now hes warming to his work, as I was a little afraid of at first; for somehow I cant say as I could see to my satisfaction, when he first come, that his heart was in it,I say, now as weve got a pastor as does us credit, I am not the man to consider a bit of expense. My opinion is as we should take the Music Hall for them lectures. Theres folks might go to the Music Hall as would never come to Salem, and were responsible for our advantages. A clever young man like Mr. Vincent aint to be named along with Mr. Tufton; were the teachers of the community, thats what we are. I am for being publicspiritedI always was; and I dont mind standing my share. My opinion is as we should take the Music Hall. If we was charging sixpence ahead or so said prudent Pigeon, the poulterer. Thats what Ill never give my consent tonever! said Tozer. If we was amusin the people, we might charge sixpence ahead; but mark my words, continued the butterman, there aint twenty men in Carlingford, nor in no other place, as would give sixpence to have their minds enlightened. No, sir, were conferring of a boon; and lets do it handsomely, I saylets do it handsomely; and heres my name down for five pound to clear expenses and if every man in Salem does as well, there aint no reason for hesitating. Im a plain man, but I dont make no account of a little bit of money when a principles at stake. This statement was conclusive. When it came to the sacrifice of a little bit of money, neither Mrs. Pigeon nor Mrs. Brown could have endured life had their husbands yielded the palm to Tozer. And the Music Hall was accordingly taken; and there, every Wednesday for six weeks, the young Nonconformist mounted his cheval de bataille, and broke his impetuous spear against the Church. Perhaps Carlingford was in want of a sensation at the moment; and the town was virgin soil, and had never yet been invaded by sight or sound of heresy. Anyhow, the fact was, that this fresh new voice attracted the ear of the public. That personal impetuosity and sense of wrong which gave fire to the discourse, roused the interest of the entire community. Mr. Vincents lectures became the fashion in Carlingford, where nobody in the higher levels of society had ever heard before of the amazing evils of a Church Establishment. Some of the weaker or more candid minds among the audience were even upset by the young ministers arguments. Two or three young people of both sexes declared themselves converted, and were persecuted to their hearts desire when they intimated their intention of henceforward joining the congregation of Salem. The two Miss Hemmings were thrown into a state of great distress and perplexity, and wrung their hands, and looked at each other, as each new enormity was brought forth. A very animated interested audience filled the benches in the Music Hall for the three last lectures. It was Mr. Tozers conviction, whispered in confidence to all the functionaries at Salem, that the rector himself, in a muffler and blue spectacles, listened in a corner to the voice of rebellion; but no proof of this monstrous supposition ever came before the public. Notwithstanding, the excitement was evident. Miss Wodehouse took tremulous notes, her fingers quivering with anger, with the intention of calling upon Mr. Wentworth to answer and deny these assertions. Dr. Marjoribanks, the old Scotchman, who in his heart enjoyed a hit at the Episcopate, cried Hear, hear, with his sturdy northern r rattling through the hall, and clapped his large brown hands, with a broad grin at his daughter, who was high, and one of Mr. Wentworths sisters of mercy. But poor little Rose Lake, the drawingmasters daughter, who was going up for confirmation next time the bishop came to Carlingford, turned very pale under Mr. Vincents teaching. All the different phases of conviction appeared in her eager little facefirst indignation, then doubt, lastly horror and intense determination to flee out from Babylon. Her father laughed, and told her to attend to her needlework, when Rose confided to him her troubles. Her needlework! She who had just heard that the Church was rotten, and tottering on its foundations; that it was choked with filthy lucre and State support; that Church to which she had been about to give in her personal adhesion. Rose put away her catechism and confirmation goodbooks, and crossed to the other side of the street that she might not pass Masterss, that emporium of evil. She looked wistfully after the young Nonconformist as he passed her on the streets, wondering what high martyrthoughts must be in the apostolic mind which entertained so high a contempt for all the honours and distinctions of this world. Meanwhile Mr. Vincent pursued his own way, entirely convinced, as was natural for a young man, that he was doing a great work in Carlingford. He was still in that stage of life when people imagine that you have only to state the truth clearly to have it believed, and that to convince a man of what is right is all that is necessary to his immediate reformation. But it was not with any very distinct hopes or wishes of emptying the church in Carlingford, and crowding Salem Chapel, that the young man proceeded. Such expectations, high visions of a day to come when not a sitting could be had in Salem for love or money, did indeed glance into the souls of Tozer and his brother deacons; but the minister did not stand up and deliver his blow at the worldhis outcry against things in generalhis warm youthful assertion that he too had a right to all the joys and privileges of humanity,as, by means of sermons, lectures, poems, or what not, youth and poverty, wherever they have a chance, do proclaim their protest against the world. On the last night of the lectures, just as Vincent had taken his place upon his platform, a rustle, as of some one of importance entering, thrilled the audience. Looking over the sea of heads before him, the breath almost left the young ministers lips when he saw the young Dowager, in all the glory of fulldress, threading her way through the crowd, which opened to let her pass. Mr. Vincent stood watching her progress, unaware that it was time for him to begin, and that his hearers, less absorbed than he, were asking each other what it was which had so suddenly paled his face and checked his utterance. He watched Lady Western and her companion come slowly forward; he saw Tozer, in a delighted bustle, leading the way to one of the raised seats of the orchestra close to the platform. When they were seated, and not till then, the lecturer, drawing a long gasping breath, turned to his audience. But the crowd was hazy to his eyes. He began, half mechanically, to speakthen made a sudden pause, his mind occupied with other things. On the very skirts of the crowd, far back at the door, stood his friend of Back Grove Street.