“Mr. Lamb, who is an old friend of ours, tells me he met you in the garden, but you did not introduce yourself.  Let me introduce you, Mr. Lamb, Mr. Coristine.”

Coristine gave the merest nod of recognition, and went on talking to Miss Halbert.  He thought Perrowne was right; there was some satisfaction conversing with a girl like that, a girl with no nonsense about her.  The minister’s gloves had got fishy, handling Marjorie’s catch, so he had taken them off when preparing himself for tea, and had left them in his room.  Miss Carmichael looked at the burnt hands, and felt disposed to scold him, but did not dare.  Perhaps, he had taken the gloves off intentionally.  She wished that ring of his were not on her finger.  Between Mr. Lamb and Miss Halbert, she felt very uncomfortable, and knew that Eugene, no, Mr. Coristine, was behaving abominably.  The colonel and his belongings had been so much about the wounded dominie all afternoon, that Mrs. Carruthers insisted on her right, as a hostess, to minister to him, while her sister-in law presided in her stead.  Coristine at once rose to help the hostess, and regained his spirits, while rallying his old friend over the many attentions he was receiving at the hands of the fair sex.  He could hardly believe his eyes and ears when he beheld the meek and helpless creature who had once been the redoubtable Wilkinson.  How had the mighty fallen!  “We’ll put you in a glass case, Wilks, like the old gray horse that was jined to the Methodis, and kicked so high they put him in the museum.”

“Corry,” interrupted the still correct dominie, “I have no sympathy with that rude song; but if you will quote it, please adhere to the original.  It was ‘my old aunt Sal that was joined to the Methodists,’ not the old gray horse.”

“Thanks, Wilks, thanks, I’ll try and remember.  Any more toast or jam, old boy?”

“No, I have a superabundance of good things.”

“Well, see you again, sometime when I have a chance.  You’re pretty well guarded you know.  Au revoir.”

Coristine followed Mrs. Carruthers down stairs; while the dominie sighed, and said:  “It seems as if nothing will give that boy stability of character and staidness of demeanour.”

“Who is going to service to-night?” asked the Squire.  Mrs. Carruthers could not, because of the children; the doctor was unfit to walk; and the colonel and Mrs. Du Plessis had so much to say to each other over their dear boy that they desired to be excused.  Mr. Bigglethorpe said he was a church-going man, but hardly cared to air his green shade in public; whereupon Mr. Terry volunteered to remain and smoke a pipe with him.  Mrs. Carmichael and her daughter signified their intention of accompanying the Squire, and Mr. Lamb at once asked permission to join them.  Miss Halbert stated that she would like to go to week service, if anybody else was going.  Of course, the lawyer offered his escort, and Miss Du Plessis and the Captain begged to be included.