to Sabbath school, which convened directly after morning service, he to start only after Maggie had pronounced him duly cleansed and clothed.  As Toddie was daily kept in bed from eleven to one, I felt that I might safely worship without distracting fears, for Budge could not alone, and in a single hour, become guilty of any particular sin.  The church at Hillcrest had many more seats than members, and as but few summer visitors had yet appeared in the town, I was conscious of being industriously stared at by the native members of the congregation.  This was of itself discomfort enough, but not all to which I was destined, for the usher conducted me quite near to the altar, and showed me into a pew whose only other occupant was Miss Mayton!  Of course the lady did not recognize me—­she was too carefully bred to do anything of the sort in church, and I spent ten uncomfortable minutes in mentally abusing the customs of good society.  The beginning of the service partially ended my uneasiness, for I had no hymn-book,—­the pew contained none,—­so Miss Mayton kindly offered me a share in her own.  And yet so faultlessly perfect and stranger-like was her manner that I wondered whether her action might not have been prompted merely by a sense of Christian duty; had I been the Khan of Tartary she could not have been more polite and frigid.  The music to the first hymn was an air I had never heard before, so I stumbled miserably through the tenor, although Miss Mayton rendered the soprano without a single false note.  The sermon was longer than I was in the habit of listening to, and I was frequently conscious of not listening at all.  As for my position and appearance, neither ever seemed so insignificant as they did throughout the entire service.

The minister reached “And finally, dear brethren,” with my earnest prayers for a successful and speedy finale.  It seemed to me that the congregation sympathized with me, for there was a general rustle behind me as these words were spoken.  It soon became evident, however, that the hearers were moved by some other feeling, for I heard a profound titter or two behind me.  Even Miss Mayton turned her head with more alacrity than was consistent with that grace which usually characterized her motions, and the minister himself made a pause of unusual length.  I turned in my seat, and saw my nephew Budge, dressed in his best, his head irreverently covered, and his new cane swinging in the most stylish manner.  He paused at each pew, carefully surveyed its occupants, seemed to fail in finding the object of his search, but continued his efforts in spite of my endeavors to catch his eye.  Finally, he recognized a family acquaintance, and to him he unburdened his bosom by remarking, in tones easily heard throughout the church:—­

“I want to find my uncle.”