‘You are not likely to leave us yet I hope, Colonel Vaughan?’ said Lady Mary Nugent.

’For a time, I must; but having found how pleasant you all are down here, I shall hope to come again frequently, if Miss Gwynne will second her papa’s invitation.’

Freda just turned round, bowed, and smiled, and then resolutely resumed her conversation with, or rather act of listening to, the vicar.

‘How interested you appear to be,’ whispered the colonel, sitting down behind her.

Rowland saw this little bit of by-play, and wished himself in London; whilst Colonel Vaughan joined in the vicar’s archaeological description of the quarry in which he had met with his accident.  Freda heard all that Rowland said more distinctly than what passed close at her side.

She heard her father and Lady Mary’s repeated entreaties that he would remain until the end of the week, and the decided, but polite refusal of Rowland.  She heard her father prophecy that he would soon have a good living, and Rowland’s reply, ’that without interest or any particular talent for what is called “popular preaching,” there was little chance of church preferment.  ‘But,’ he added, ’I am well content to be only a curate.  There is enough to do in my parish to keep one from morning to night employed, and that in real, active, heart-stirring work, that will not let one flag if one would wish it.’

‘I thould like to thee the Eatht End, mamma,’ said Miss Nugent.  ’People in the Wetht theem to think all the inhabitanths barbarians.’

‘It is a pity they don’t come and try to civilise us, then,’ said Rowland.  ‘We should be very glad of their help.’

‘I will go if mamma will let me,’ said Miss Nugent.

Lady Mary smiled somewhat superciliously, and observed that she did not think she would be of much use.

’All who have a desire to do good will make a path of usefulness, Lady Mary, I think,’ said Rowland.  ’In these days the enlightened must not hide their light under a bushel.  We live in stirring, striving times, when good and evil seem at terrible issue.’

‘And which will conquer?’ broke in Colonel Vaughan suddenly.  ’I don’t see that all the meetings and tracts have done much, as yet, towards their part in the fight.’

‘Good must conquer eventually,’ said Rowland, ’and is conquering daily and hourly.’

‘In your East End parish?’

’We hope so.  If our progress is slow we are not without encouragement even there, in the very thick of the battle, and where the armies of evil are ten to one against good.’

’I know something of fighting, Mr Rowland, and I fear the odds are too great.  You may as well give up the conflict.’

’Remember, Colonel Vaughan, that in all the great battles of antiquity, and not a few of modern times—­the Swiss for example—­those who fought for freedom and right have always found their arms nerved to resist multitudes—­hundreds have conquered tens of thousands.  So is it with our warfare.  We have strength given us that makes the single champion of the cross, powerful against the legion of his adversaries.’