us to
the epoch of his conversion. She then glanced over the letters and diary,
and wherever there was a predominance of Zion, the River of Life, and
notes of exclamation, she turned over to the next page; but any passage
in which she saw such promising nouns as 'small-pox', 'pony', or 'boots
and shoes', at once arrested her.

'It is half-past six now,' said Miss Linnet, looking at her watch as the
servant appeared with the tea-tray. 'I suppose the delegates are come
back by this time. If Mr. Tryan had not so kindly promised to call and
let us know, I should hardly rest without walking to Milby myself to know
what answer they have brought back. It is a great privilege for us, Mr.
Tryan living at Mrs. Wagstaff's, for he is often able to take us on his
way backwards and forwards into the town.'

'I wonder if there's another man in the world who has been brought up as
Mr. Tryan has, that would choose to live in those small close rooms on
the common, among heaps of dirty cottages, for the sake of being near the
poor people,' said Mrs. Pettifer. 'I'm afraid he hurts his health by it;
he looks to me far from strong.'

'Ah,' said Miss Pratt, 'I understand he is of a highly respectable family
indeed, in Huntingdonshire. I heard him myself speak of his father's
carriage--quite incidentally, you know--and Eliza tells me what very fine
cambric handkerchiefs he uses. My eyes are not good enough to see such
things, but I know what breeding is as well as most people, and it is
easy to see that Mr. Tryan is quite _comme il faw_, to use a French
expression.'

'I should like to tell him better nor use fine cambric i' this place,
where there's such washing, it's a shame to be seen,' said Mrs. Linnet;
'he'll get 'em tore to pieces. Good lawn 'ud be far better. I saw what a
colour his linen looked at the sacrament last Sunday. Mary's making him a
black silk case to hold his bands, but I told her she'd more need wash
'em for him.'

'O mother!' said Rebecca, with solemn severity, 'pray don't think of
pocket-handkerchiefs and linen, when we are talking of such a man. And at
this moment, too, when he is perhaps having to bear a heavy blow. We have
more need to help him by prayer, as Aaron and Hur held up the hands of
Moses. We don't know but wickedness may have triumphed, and Mr.
Prendergast may have consented to forbid the lecture. There have been
dispensations quite as mysterious, and Satan is evidently putting forth
all his strength t