As the season drew to its close at Albano, and the period of returning
to Rome approached, the church committee, following the precedent of all
previous years, fell out, and held a succession of vestry-meetings for
mutual abuse and recrimination. Partisanship is the badge of church
patrons; and while the parson had his adherents, and the organist his
supporters, there were half a dozen very warm friends who advocated the
cause of the bell-ringer,--a drunken little heathen, who, because he had
never crossed the threshold of a Catholic church for years, was given
brevet rank as a member of the Reformed religion.

The time of auditing the church accounts is usually a sort of day of
judgment on the clergyman. All the complaints that can be preferred
against him are kept for that occasion. A laudable sentiment possibly
prompts men to ascertain what they have got for their money; at all
events, people in no wise remarkable for personal thrift show at such
times a most searching spirit of inquiry, and eagerly investigate the
cost of sweeping out the vestry and clearstarching the chaplain's bands.

As to the doctrine of the parson, and the value of his ministration,
there were a variety of opinions. He was too high for this one, too dry
for that; he was not impressive, not solemn nor dignified with some,
while others deemed him deficient in that winning familiarity which is
so soothing to certain sinners. Some thought his sermons too high-flown
and too learned, others asked why he only preached to the children in
the gallery. On one only point was there anything like unanimity:
each man who withdrew his subscription did so on principle. None--not
one--referred his determination to contribute no longer to any motive
of economy. All declared that it was something in the celebration of the
service--a doctrine inculcated in the pulpit--something the parson had
said, or something he had worn--obliged them, "with infinite regret,"
to withdraw what they invariably called "their mite." In fact, one thing
was clear: a more high-minded, right-judging, scrupulous body of people
could not be found than the congregation, whatever might be said or
thought of him whose duty it was to guide them.

Lady Augusta Bramleigh had gone off to Rome, and a small three-cornered
note, highly perfumed, and most nervously written, informed the
committee that she was quite ready to continue her former subscription,
or more, if required; that she was char