assive oaken pillar, under the shelter of a
cluster of tall elms; on a marine background, the noble beast that stands
for the type of national courage and strength was depicted rampant, his
fierce claws raised in defiance of all invaders. Under the sign shone
out in golden letters the name, "Stephen Dale."

The other end of the straggling street was closed by the old church with
its squat tower, whose carven doorways and capitals were wont to attract
to the place many a traveler learned in archaeology; for it was a famous
building in its way, and was honorably mentioned in most manuals of
architecture.

The inn and the church had little in common--less, indeed, than an inn
and a church in other villages. Stephen Dale's sole interest in the
sacred building was of a temporal nature; he regarded its attractions
with satisfaction because they served to bring past his door many a
wayfarer who would otherwise never set foot in Lanedon. Such might pass
on their way to the church, but would seldom omit to enter the inn on
their return journey for a few minutes of rest and refreshment. And a
charming place of rest it was! From a stone-paved passage you entered
the "house-place," a large square room, also stone-paved, a step lower
than the passage. Its wide chimney had settled on either side, where one
could sit warm and comfortable--heedless of winter winds--in the glow of
the log-fire burning on the iron "dogs" of the low hearth. In summer its
sanded pavement made it a gratefully cool retreat from the sunshine
outside. Moreover, Stephen Dale's renowned home-brewed ale added to the
attractions of the house.

Neither Stephen nor any of his household ever set foot in the church for
the purposes of worship; for, strange as it may seem, the Dales,
surrounded by English country yokels, whose sole notion of religion lay
in a perfunctory attendance at church once on a Sunday--afternoon for
preference--to listen uncomprehending to the service, and slumber through
the sermon, came of a Catholic stock. Both Stephen and his wife hailed
from Lancashire; they had spent many years in service together in a
Catholic household about fifty miles distant from Lanedon before they had
married and set up housekeeping at the "British Lion." Nor were they so
utterly deprived of the consolations of religion as at first sight might
appear; four miles away were the military barracks of Melliford, and a
Catholic chapel which had been built ther