greatly exposed in London. The society with which he chiefly mixed were men of talent, close reasoners, and popular men not wanting in a good opinion of themselves; standing high in public esteem, it was in this mirror they regarded their own characters; and though Protheroe was a different man, it is well known we are apt to take the colour of our converse from those among whom we mix; and a sort of consciousness hung over this good young man in his occasional visits to P-, as though it were a different atmosphere. It was all the language of the eye which he spoke now, and as we are privileged to read what passes in the heart, we will just inform our readers that he thought, "never shall the pride of masculine talent close my ear to the gentle whispers of feminine counsel. No, my sweet Sophy, I feel assured you will never improperly usurp; and far be it from me to shun so gentle a monitor." It may be necessary to explain in what way Mrs. Walker could counsel her husband.

Mr. Walker was the son of a very upright curate of a neighbouring parish, very much respected by all the neighbour. ing clergy; and the more so, as he did not go too far in religion. He brought up his three children with the strictest attention to economy, and transmitted his patrimony

to them untouched. All this was excellent in its place, and we may say of him, that he shone, but he did not burn; his religion had the outward polish, but it wanted the inward warmth; and while Mrs. Walker's father, with an ample fortune, could scarcely obtain common civility, old Walker was cited and admired by all his neighbours and wherefore? simply for this reason he called himself a high churchman. He acknowledged in the confession, that he had gone astray like a lost sheep; he read in the Lessons, that he must be born again, or he could not enter the kingdom of heaven; he prayed also, that God would not take his holy Spirit from him or his congregation.

He also read, that God gives his holy Spirit to them that ask it. In the ordination service he had joined in the prayer, for immediate influence; had paused with his fellow candidates for orders, as though they expected the blessing they sought; and yet, gentle reader, after all this, he would deny the influences of the Spirit, and despise the saints, as he called them, who pretended to expect it. Wonder not, reader, when you hear such a man called a high churchman: he was high, it is true, in his own opinion, and had it not been that his son's choice was a wealthy choice,

ter.

he would have made stout opposition to his union with Mrs. Walker. Wonder not that Mr. Walker's prejudices should yield, he is not the only man who has found some charm in seventeen thousand pounds, which was the sum paid with his young daughNot that Walker was mercenary, far from it; he was really liberal beyond his means, but then the idea of close union with persons whose principles he affected to despise, was to him no small sacrifice; they had nothing in common. Walker was a keen sportsman, Nugent thought it incompatible with the clerical character. Walker thought, if he preached a sermon on Sunday, visited the sick when they sent for him, and performed all the outward duties of the ministerial character, he had done sufficient, and might thank God that "he was not as other men were." Nugent was never satisfied with himself, but lived in the spirit of that text, "God be merciful to me a sinner." Yet, think not that the one was gloomy, or the other particularly happy; no, there was a craving ambition about Walker, while the humility of Nugent led him to a safe and happy dependance on a Saviour.

Young Walker saw enough of the composure and peace of Mr. Nugent's character to respect his principles, if he did not

at first adopt them; and Sophia Nugent was so convinced of the enquiring mind of her friend, that she had no fear, if once he saw light that he should close his eyes in darkness. Many a sweet lecture did he receive as they walked up and down the broad avenue that led to her father's house, with the Bible in her hand, and prayer in her heart; she would sweetly endeavour to persuade him, whom much she loved, that the outward forms were nothing without the inward spiritual grace, and that the death unto sin must be accompanied by a new birth unto righteousness.

I have been thus explicit, to clear this excellent person from an imputation which might naturally attach to her character. No; be assured she yielded the palm most cheerfully, and was delighted to see how rapidly conviction and conversion went hand in hand with him to whom she had given her heart. This has been a long digression, but Mrs. Walker, thus honoured and beloved by her husband, had as often sought his arm for strength, and yielded the needful support when her excellent husband required it at her hand. And now, in this lingering weakness, she was most consoling when all within, saving hist trust in a Saviour, trembled to the centre. She was more valued, more beloved,

than even in those days when he led her to the altar, as his dear and happy bride.

Mr. Lascelles was obliged to return home, and Protheroe also; but Sophia remained while her father's weakness required her presence. But we must attend to the hero of our story.

The reader has heard that the domestic economy of the Brow was changed, and the number of in-door servants increased; and that it arose from the circumstance of the unkind reports respecting them. There were many families in the village who envied Michael, and Jem Brown, who retained his old affection for him, and his especial anxiety that, as a religious character, all should go well beneath his roof, never failed to bring every report that could at all touch Michael's reputation. Now, though many of the servants at the Rectory were very worthy, and most of them religious characters, yet there was one gossiping girl whom Mrs. Lascelles had taken from Farmer Jennings as dairymaid she had been occasionally elevated to the post of waiting-maid to the Miss Jennings, and had inherited some of their cast-off finery, and much of their spirit; and having gathered from the tattle of her young ladies that Mr. Kemp was a sort of Methodist, and knowing that Jem was his