envy, and complaining, to which the uninformed of all classes but too eagerly listen?  I have ever found the religious and the political propagandist united in the same individual.  The man who proposes to the simple to improve his creed, is ready to point out the way to better his condition.  He succeeds in rendering him unhappy in both, and there he leaves him.  So would this man, and I would rather die for my people, than tamely give them over to their misery.”

A tall, stout, weather-beaten man, in the coarse dress of a fisherman, descending the hill, intercepted our way.  It was the man Cuthbert, already mentioned by Mr Fairman.  He touched his southwester to the incumbent.

“How is the boy, Cuthbert?” asked the minister, stopping at the same moment.

“All but well, sir.  Doctor Mayhew don’t mean to come again.  It’s all along of them nourishments that Miss Ellen sent us down.  The Doctor says he must have died without them.”

“Well, Cuthbert, I trust that we shall find you grateful.”

“Grateful, sir!” exclaimed the man.  “If ever I forget what you have done for that poor child, I hope the breath——­” The brawny fisherman could say no more.  His eyes filled suddenly with tears, and he held down his head, ashamed of them.  He had no cause to be so.

“Be honest and industrious, Cuthbert; give that boy a good example.  Teach him to love his God, and his neighbour as himself.  That will be gratitude enough, and more than pay Miss Ellen.”

“I’ll try to do it, sir.  God bless you!”

We said little till we reached the parsonage again; but before I re-entered its gate the Reverend Walter Fairman had risen in my esteem, and ceased to be considered a cold and unfeeling man.

We dined; the party consisting of the incumbent, the six students, and myself.  The daughter, the only daughter and child of Mr Fairman, who was himself a widower, had not returned from the cottage to which she had been called in the morning.  It was necessary that a female should be in constant attendance upon the aged invalid; a messenger had been despatched to the neighbouring village for an experienced nurse; and until her arrival Miss Fairman would permit no one but herself to undertake the duties of the sick chamber.  It was on this account that we were deprived of the pleasure of her society, for her accustomed seat was at the head of her father’s table.  I was pleased with the pupils.  They were affable and well-bred.  They treated the incumbent with marked respect, and behaved towards their new teacher with the generous kindness and freedom of true young gentlemen.  The two eldest boys might be fifteen years of age.  The remaining four could not have reached their thirteenth year.  In the afternoon I had the scholars to myself.  The incumbent retired to his library, and left us to pass our first day in removing the restraint that was the natural accompaniment of our different positions, and in securing our intimacy.