I looked at the converted gentleman, at the same moment that Mrs Jehu assured him that it would be a great thing if they were all as satisfied of their condition as he might be.  “Your strong convictions of your worthlessness is alone a proof,” she added, “of your accepted state.”

“My lady,” continued the humble Stanislaus, “I am rotten, I am a tief, a blackguard, a swindler, a pickpocket, a housebreak, a sticker mit de knife.  I vish somebody would call me names all de day long, because I forget sometime dat I am de nashty vurm of de creation.  I tink I hire a boy to call me names, and make me not forget.  Oh, my lady, I alvays remember those fine words you sing—­

    ’If I could read my title clear
      To manshions in de shkies,
    I say farevell to every fear,
      And vipe my veeping eyes.’”

“That is so conscientious of you.  Pray, my dear sir, is there an Establishment in Poland? or have you Independent churches?”

“Ah, my dear lady, we have noting at all!”

“Is it possible?”

“Yase, it is possible—­it is true.”

“Who could have thought it!  What! nothing?”

“Noting at all, my lady.  Do not ask me again, I pray you.  It is frightful to a goot Christian to talk dese tings.”

“What is your opinion of the Arminian doctrine, Mr Stanislaus?”

“Do you mean de doctrine?” enquired Stanislaus, slowly, as though he found some difficulty in answering the question.

“Yes, my dear sir.”

“I tink,” said the gentleman, after some delay, “it vould he very goot if were not for someting.”

“Dear me!” cried Mrs Jehu, “that is so exactly my opinion!”

“Den dere is noting more to be said about dat,” continued Stanislaus, interrupting her; “and I hope you vill not ask dese deep questions, my dear lady, vich are not at all proper to be answered, and vich put me into de low spirits.  Shall ve sing a hymn?”

“By all means,” exclaimed the hostess, who immediately made preparations for the ceremony.  Hymn-books were introduced, and the servant-maid ordered up, and then a quartet was performed by Mr Levisohn, Mrs Tomkins, her husband, and Betsy.  The subject of the song was the courtship of Isaac.  Two verses only have remained in my memory, and the manner in which they were given out by the fervent Stanislaus will never be forgotten.  They ran thus:—­

    “Ven Abraham’s servant to procure
      A vife for Isaac vent,
    He met Rebekah, tould his vish,
      Her parents gave conshent.

    ‘Shtay,’ Satan, my old master, cries,
      ‘Or force shall thee detain.’ 
    ’Hinder me not, I vill be gone,
      I vish to break my chain.’”

This being concluded, Mr Tomkins asked Mr Levisohn what he had to say in the business line, to which Mr Levisohn replied, “Someting very goot, but should he not vait until after soppare?” whereupon Mr Tomkins gave his lady a significant leer, and the latter retired, evidently to prepare the much desired repast.  Then did little Jehu turn confidentially to Stanislaus, and ask him when he meant to deliver that ere conac that he had promised him so long ago.