s then seen sallying forth from the porch of his
hall, arm-in-arm with his wife, and at the head of his household. The
second service was (as is commonly the case in rural districts) more
numerously attended than the first one; and it was our parson's wont to
devote to this service his most effective discourse.

Parson Dale, though a very fair scholar, had neither the deep theology
nor the archaeological learning that distinguish the rising generation
of the clergy. I much doubt if he could have passed what would now be
called a creditable examination in the Fathers; and as for all the nice
formalities in the rubric, he would never have been the man to divide a
congregation or puzzle a bishop. Neither was Parson Dale very erudite
in ecclesiastical architecture. He did not much care whether all the
details in the church were purely Gothic or not; crockets and finials,
round arch and pointed arch, were matters, I fear, on which he had never
troubled his head.

But one secret Parson Dale did possess, which is perhaps of equal
importance with those subtler mysteries,--he knew how to fill his
church! Even at morning service no pews were empty, and at evening
service the church overflowed.

Parson Dale, too, may be considered nowadays to hold but a mean idea
of the spiritual authority of the Church. He had never been known
to dispute on its exact bearing with the State,--whether it was
incorporated with the State or above the State, whether it was
antecedent to the Papacy or formed from the Papacy, etc. According to
his favourite maxim, "Quieta non movere,"--["Not to disturb things that
are quiet."]--I have no doubt that he would have thought that the less
discussion is provoked upon such matters the better for both Church and
laity. Nor had he ever been known to regret the disuse of the ancient
custom of excommunication, nor any other diminution of the powers of the
priesthood, whether minatory or militant; yet for all this, Parson
Dale had a great notion of the sacred privilege of a minister of the
gospel,--to advise, to deter, to persuade, to reprove. And it was for
the evening service that he prepared those sermons which may be called
"sermons that preach at you." He preferred the evening for that salutary
discipline, not only because the congregation was more numerous, but
also because, being a shrewd man in his own innocent way, he knew that
people bear better to be preached at after dinner than before; that you
arri