f young men who met for intellectual debate, and his
success as an orator fostered the spiritual pride already discernible in
him. His next step could not be regarded without concern, for he became
a member of the National Sunday League. Deceptive name! At first
the Miss. Barmbys supposed this was a union for safe-guarding the
Sabbath-day; it appalled them to discover that the League had quite an
opposite tendency, that its adherents sallied forth together on 'Sunday
excursions,' that they received tickets for Sunday admission to picture
galleries, and in various other ways offended orthodox feeling. But
again the father and sisters gave patient ear to Samuel's elaborate
arguments. They became convinced that he had no evil intentions. The
elder girl, having caught up a pregnant phrase in some periodical she
approved, began to remark that Samuel had 'a modern mind;' and this
eventually consoled them.

When it began to be observed that Samuel talked somewhat frequently of
Miss. Lord, the implied suggestion caused a tremor of confused feeling.
To the Miss. Barmbys, Nancy seemed an enigmatic person; they had
tried to like her, but could not; they objected to her assumption of
superiority, and were in grave doubt as to her opinions on cardinal
points of faith and behaviour. Yet, when it appeared a possibility that
their brother might woo Miss. Lord and win her for a wife, the girls did
their best to see her in a more favourable light. Not for a moment
did it occur to them that Nancy could regard a proposal from Samuel as
anything but an honour; to _them_ she might behave slightingly, for they
were of her own sex, and not clever; but a girl who prided herself on
intellectual attainments must of course look up to Samuel Bennett with
reverence. In their unworldliness--of a truth they were good, simple
creatures--the slight difference of social position seemed unimportant.
And with Samuel's elevation to a partnership, even that one shadowy
obstacle was removed. Henceforth they would meet Nancy in a conciliatory
spirit, and, if she insisted upon it, bow down before her.

Mr. Barmby, senior, whose years drew nigh to three-score, had a great
advantage in point of physical health over his old friend Stephen Lord,
and his mind enjoyed a placidity which promised him length of days.
Since the age of seventeen he had plied a pen in the office of a Life
Assurance Company, where his salary, by small and slow increments, had
grown at leng