go out to his potato-planting and forget all about it, as he
would have liked to have done--something would not let him; and there he
was sitting crouched up and sorrowful on the steps of the stairs, when
Mr. Cope and all the rest were gathered in Alfred's room, a church for
the time. Matilda and Ellen had set out the low table with the fair
white cloth, and Mr. Cope brought the small cups and paten, which were
doubly precious to him for having belonged to his father, and because the
last time he had seen them used had been for his father's last Communion.

Now was the time to feel that a change had really passed over the young
pastor in the time of his absence. Before, he could only lead Alfred in
his prayers, and give him counsel, tell him to hope in his repentance,
and on what that hope was founded. Now that he had bent beneath the hand
of the Bishop, he had received, straight down from the Twelve, the Power
from on High. It was not Mr. Cope, but the Lord Who had purchased that
Pardon by His own most Precious Blood, Who by him now declared to Alfred
that the sins and errors of which he had so long repented, were pardoned
and taken away. The Voice of Authority now assured him of what he had
been only told to hope and trust before. And to make the promise all the
more close and certain, here was the means of becoming a partaker of the
Sacrifice--here was that Bread and that Cup which shew forth the Lord's
Death till He come. It was very great rest and peace, the hush that was
over the quiet room, with only Alfred's hurried breath to be heard beside
Mr. Cope's voice as he spoke the blessed words, and the low responses of
the little congregation. Paul was close beside Alfred--he would have him
there between his mother and the wall--and the two whose first Communion
it was, were the last to whom Mr. Cope came. To one it was to be the
Food for the passage into the unseen world; to the other might it be the
first partaking of the Manna to support him through the wilderness of
this life.

'From the highways and hedges,' here was one brought into the foretaste
of the Marriage Supper. Ah! there was one outside, who had loved idle
pleasure when the summons had been sent to him. Perhaps the misery he
was feeling now might be the means of sparing him from missing other
calls, and being shut out at last.

It seemed to fulfil all that Alfred had wished. He lay still between
waking and sleeping for a long time afterwar