ggs, with a startled stare.

Mr Bunker suspected that he had made a slip in his biblical reminiscences,
but he continued to smile imperturbably, and inquired with a perfect air
of surprise, "Haven't you read the novel I referred to?"

Mr Duggs appeared a little relieved, but he answered blankly enough,
"I--ah--have not. What is the book you refer to?"

"Oh, don't you know? To tell the truth, I forget the title. It's by a
somewhat well-known lady writer of religious fiction. A Miss--her name
escapes me at this moment."

In fact, as Mr Bunker had no idea how long his friend might be dwelling in
the apartment immediately above him, he thought it more prudent to make no
statement that could possibly be checked.

"I am no great admirer of religious fiction of any kind," replied Mr
Duggs, "particularly that written by emotional females."

"No," said Mr Bunker, pleasantly; "I should imagine your own doctrines
were not apt to err on the sentimental side."

"I am not aware that I have said anything to you about my--doctrines, as
you call them, Mr Butler."

"Still, don't you think one can generally tell a man's creed from his
coat, and his sympathies from the way he cocks his hat?"

"I think," replied Mr Duggs, "that our ideas of our vocation are somewhat
different."

"Mine is, I admit," said Mr Bunker, who had come to the conclusion that
the strain of playing his part was really too great, and was now being
happily carried along by his tongue.

Mr Duggs for a moment was evidently disposed to give battle, but thinking
better of it, he contented himself with frowning at his younger opponent,
and abruptly changed the subject.

"May I ask what position you hold in the church, Mr Butler?"

"Why," began Mr Bunker, lightly: it was on the tip of his tongue to say "a
clergyman, of course," when he suddenly recollected that he might be
anything from the rank of curate up to the people who wear gaiters (and
who these were precisely he didn't know). An ingenious solution suggested
itself. He replied with a preliminary inquiry, "Have you ever been in the
East, Mr Duggs?"

"I regret to say I have not hitherto had the opportunity."

"Thank the Lord for that," thought Mr Bunker. "I have been a missionary,"
he said quietly, and looked dreamily into the fire.

It was a happy move. Mr Duggs was visibly impressed.

"Ah?" he said. "Indeed? I am much interested to learn this, Mr Butler.
It--ah--gives me perhaps a somewhat differen