nothing of it. As a matter of fact a legal gentleman had on two occasions made notes of all they had to tell him. But his advice had been to make friends with the parson because no one could be cocksure how his ludship's gout would be serving him. "Oh, my dear madam,' Charity's letter concluded, "I do wish and pray as how our dear parson was with us. He would know how

to make they judges believe as neither Luke nor Ben could never a' struck anybody, with any knife. Oh, my lady, Aunt Martha and me is fair mazed to think what's done to Master Trevenna. And now that sheep in wolf's cloes,that Hoblyn, is swearing he'll have me in the dock too, without I'll go to church with him. He's swore as he'll take his oath he seen Luke murder the gentleman in the boat and me holding him down. God a' mercy on us all, because that Holbyn won't. But I won't wed him-without I was so sure as coffin nails nothing else would save Luke from the gallus. And then he should wed a corpse. And, my lady, Dad have beat me black and blue-and he would have it as how 'twer the hand of the Lord as chastened me. I won't, I won't. Auntie do reckon Hoblyn has done for Parson Christopher. Genny is quite well and wishes her respecs. Which the same is from us all and with our obedient duty and hoping your ladyship is the same, Cherry Hornbuckle."

But

The second letter was even more disconcerting:

"Do not think me ungrateful," it ran, " for all you have done while I have been under your roof and your wing, nor unmindful of your tender words. When you left me, dear Lady, I knew that the Light was in your heart. I knew the Spirit would be leading you, and that for a spell I had no correlation with that leading. So I will not seek or question you. I shall know if and when I can serve you.

'But I am also led; so that I have neither will to ask whither I shall go, nor care to inquire how I shall be lodged. Only one thing is in fierce possession of my

soul that I dare not tarry longer here in comfort,— however freely from your hands to heal my disorders— got with money earned in manufactories that thrive only by taking the little folk of the Kingdom of Heaven and breaking them.

So, being now made whole-thanks to your love, so cleansing that even the web woven from threads of Arkwright's throstle or Crompton's mule is washed clean of blood-stain-I am constrained to depart. This evening I have sought audience with your honoured father and am received by him with a courtesy like your own. I dared borrow two guineas of him. He urged fifty upon me; but my need was for two only. At daybreak I shall set forth. Mistress Loveday is to plenish my wallet with refreshment, and every step I take homewards will lend me better then guineas. Luke has need of me, and the road will bring me ever nearer the one in whom my heart is centred. Yet it may be God's will that I never see her again. For, and by the strength of the vow chosen by your husband, 'by God's most precious blood,' never will I be beholden to the blood of innocence, unless my Redeemer's. By miracle-and not by rite as the priests do claim-you do transform bread and wine into the body and blood of the Saviour whenever your hands are laid upon grief and misery. Shall you then, by black magic-you, endowed with love that casts out devils and frees poor souls in bondage-shall you consent and consort with these who, by necromancy and unhuman greed, transform the body and blood of the innocents into bread of luxury and wine of irresponsibility? Vide Isaiah lxvi, 3 and 17.

"Evangeline! God knows there is no fiery furnace I would not pass through, if thereby I might serve you. But I may do nothing that shall make it easier for you, God's child, to think Hell a pleasant place given you by God to dwell in. Can it be lawful to make life worthier by a qualified traffic with hell? But, while

yet you think to worship God in spirit and in truth, what if you, too, be caught in the Devil's mechanic claws? How quick we are to think the world's doings must be parcel of God's ordinance, even because they do feed and sustain us and even fortify our charities! But oh, dear my lady, has not the Devil always found it easier to cloathe us with fine raiment than God to cloathe us with righteousness? Is it not always more tempting to dine with Dives than sup with the Lord?

"It is in utmost humility that I write these words: for as you read them, I am enraged against myself for uttering them to you who follow the beloved Lord so watchfully. Indeed, I am sore beat with doubt and bruising. For I am but now come through a terrible battle with Apollyon-that very Apollyon whom but a few weeks ago I did so cheerfully disbelieve in ! He fought as if for you and for me, and boasted he would always stand with us against the world. But I threw him. Then I saw the truth: that it must be you and me against Apollyon for evermore; whether together or apart.

'In God's Eternity our Time abides.

My first step upwards was through my North Door. Have I brought suffering to you therefrom? Compelled you for the joy that was set before you to endure the cross, despise the shame? Then God be praised! But may He give me share in your burden.

"C. T."

'In God's eternity our time abides," she quoted, and the words became an article in her faith. They took rank alongside Charity Hornbuckle's fierce and splendid stand against the fate that beset her-the supreme trust alongside the concrete virility. Evangeline Walrond would not be beaten by the farmer's daughter in steadfastness! She now saw that her own acceptance of luxuries and refinements, of her own classic tastes and critical discernments, as parcel of God's ordinance had held her from closest touch of

S

understanding with this wonderful man, "a burning and a shining light." Her way to reach him might be stony; she would travel it on her knees if in them alone lay her strength. She began to wonder if gentle blood was not so red as peasants', and whether refinement of manners might not weaken the soul's natural fortitude more than harsh blows and unjust laws. Clearly her privileges must be given up if one would have treasure in heaven. For, for-and so honest was her soul that she did not hesitate at the confession-Christopher was her only way to the heavenly Mansions: it was him she must serve!

The first steps, as usual with this woman, were not doubtful. A letter was sent to Charity to assure her that everything possible was being done here, at least, her privileges and wealth could still serve, even if one saw them spotted with blood of the poor innocents! This done, she left London post haste for Welton, travelling only by daylight, so that, by close observation of the road and constant inquiry, she might possibly meet Mr. Trevenna. For she could not for a moment, awake or asleep, whatever her doings or her dreamings, forget the frail man with the burning eyes, resolute nose and straight-set lips toiling like a beggar along the road, and none but the destitute to succour him. Was then her own wealtheven with her heart abjectly poor-to be of no service to him? Would he die upon the road rather than accept sustenance from her hands?

But Lady Evangeline did not meet Mr. Trevenna upon the road.

L

CHAPTER XXXVI

THE BUBBLE BURSTS

ORD BLAKISTONBURY had written to the Archdeacon concerning Lady Evangeline's enthusiastick notions about the mills, begging him, as a Christian and man of the world, to persuade her how unseemly it was for a female to dabble in questions of economic polity. Himself had taken Pope's lines as the greatest in all English literature:

"All partial evil, universal good;

And spite of pride, in erring reason's spite,
One truth is clear, whatever is, is right,"-

and he trusted his brother would make this plain to her. So Lady Evangeline must get a lecture from her uncle. Was she an authority on church dogma? Or on medical philosophy? Or on astronomy? Would she not prefer his opinion, Sydenham's, Newton's, to her own flounderings on such matters? Then why, not being conversant with the patents of the lamented Arkwright and his compeers, or with the writings of Mr. Adam Smith and the admirable Mr. Bentham, should she pronounce opinion on the management of the cotton-mills?

But although it might be advisable to know something about throstle-frames and spinning-jennies, steam-engines and fly-wheels before she could understand how far the work of the children-the little doffers, slubbers and piecers-was really injurious, Lady