the susceptible, impulsive little man, Stephen Layard,
for Stella Fregelius, the lady whose singing he had admired, and who
had been a cause of war between him and his sister. Like many weak men,
Stephen Layard was obstinate, also from boyhood up he had suffered
much at the hands of Eliza, who was not, in fact, quite so young as
she looked. Hence there arose in his breast a very natural desire for
retaliation. Eliza had taken a violent dislike to Miss Fregelius, whom
he thought charming. This circumstance in their strained relations was
reason enough to induce Stephen to pay court to her, even if his natural
inclination had not made the adventure very congenial.

Therefore, on the first opportunity he called at the Abbey to ask after
the rector, to be, as he had hoped, received by Stella. Finding his
visit exceedingly agreeable, after a day or two he repeated it, and
this time was conducted to the old clergyman's bedroom, upon whom his
civility made a good impression.

Now, as it happened, although he did not live in Monksland, Mr. Layard
was one of the largest property owners in the parish, a circumstance
which he did not fail to impress upon the new rector. Being by nature
and training a hard-working man who wished to do his best for his cure
even while he lay helpless, Mr. Fregelius welcomed the advances of this
wealthy young gentleman with enthusiasm, especially when he found that
he was no niggard. A piece of land was wanted for the cemetery. Mr.
Layard offered to present an acre. Money was lacking to pay off a debt
upon the reading-room. Mr. Layard headed the subscription list with a
handsome sum. And so forth.

Now the details of these various arrangements could not conveniently be
settled without many interviews, and thus very soon it came about that
scarcely a day went by upon which Mr. Layard's dog-cart did not pass
through the Abbey gates. Generally he came in the morning and stopped to
lunch; or he came in the afternoon and stopped to tea. In fact, or thus
it seemed to Morris, he always stopped to something, so much so that
although not lacking in hospitality, at times Morris found his presence
wearisome, for in truth the two men had nothing in common.

"He must have turned over a new leaf with a vengeance, for he never
would give a sixpence to anything during old Tomley's time," remarked
Morris to Stella. "I suppose that he has taken a great fancy to your
father, which is a good thing for the parish, as