ish agitation, had
combined to produce the catastrophe. The Reverend Gabriel Hornblower was
trapped as effectually as a fly in a pool of molasses, and could only
struggle helplessly in his efforts to free himself.

Louise came to his relief, and together they succeeded in separating his
coat from the chair-back, and he took his ignominious departure. The
young girl stood looking after him, until he disappeared around the
corner, then she fled to her own room, and into the very depths of her
closet, to smother the sound of her hysterical laughter. But when at
last she grew quiet, her face became very gentle once more, as she said
to herself, in a tone of womanly pity,--

"Poor old man! But at least, I can keep his secret; not even Winthrop
shall ever know."

In the mean time, the Reverend Gabriel had slowly betaken himself to his
lonely room, where he laid aside his hat, and approached the mirror.

"No," he said to himself, as he stood gazing at the reflected face
before him; "it wouldn't do; it wouldn't do. She's too beautiful; and
I'm--too old." And he seated himself in his worn old easy-chair, and
took up the book he had laid aside an hour before.

CHAPTER XVIII.

UNDER ORDERS.

It was less than two weeks after the Reverend Gabriel's call upon
Louise, that Mr. Burnam came up from his office, one noon, with a letter
in his hand.

"Well, daught," he called, as Allie ran out to meet him; "where's mamma?
I have some news for her."

"News! What is it? Nothing very bad, I hope," she answered, as she
seized his hand in both of hers, and hurried him towards the house.

"That depends," he said laughing. "Wait till we get into the house, and
then I'll tell you."

"I don't believe it's much of anything," she declared scornfully. "If
'twas, you never could wait to tell us."

"We'll see about it," responded her father, as he entered the house.

But it was not until they were all seated about the lunch table that he
would tell them his news. From the central office of the railway by
which he had been employed for the past five years, a letter had come
to him, that very morning, offering him the position of consulting
engineer for the company, an advance which would bring him much honor
and more salary. For a few moments there was a babel of congratulation
and rejoicing; then Mrs. Burnam put an end to it all by asking
quietly,--

"And when shall we have to leave here?"

"Leave?" And Allie turned to stare