. MacFie,--"and David 'ad sort o' taken a likin' to 'er, so wot does
David do but send Urrier to the front, so as 'e might get killed, an'
then David pinches 'is gal.

"Now wot I want to know, sir," said Bindle, addressing Mr. MacFie, "is
wot Gawd did? 'Cos as far as I can see 'E was sort o' fond o' David.
Now if I'd been Gawd, an' David 'ad done a thing like that, I'd 'a
raised a pretty big blister on 'is nose."

No one spoke. Mr. Hearty glanced covertly at Mr. MacFie, who looked as
if he would have given much to be elsewhere. Mrs. Bindle's lips had
entirely disappeared. Mrs. Hearty gasped and heaved, whilst Minnie
blushed.

"Bindle!" cried Mrs. Bindle at last; "Bindle, you forget yourself."

"Not me, Mrs. B., I come 'ere to get wot you an' 'Earty calls 'light.'
Now, sir," turning to Mr. MacFie, "wot do you think Gawd did, an' wot
do you think o' that blighter David?"

"Meester Beendle," said Mr. MacFie at last, "we must leave to
Proveedence the things that belong to Proveedence."

"I thought you'd agree, sir; you're a sport, you are. Of course David
ought to 'ave left to Urrier wot belonged to Urrier, and not pinch 'is
gal. You wouldn't do a thing like that, sir, would you?" he enquired.
"I wonder wot the gal thought, eh, Millikins?" he enquired, turning to
his niece.

"If I had been her," said Millie, "I should have killed David."

"Millie!" gasped Mr. Hearty. "How--how dare you say such a thing."

"I should, father," replied Millie quietly.

Mr. MacFie coughed, Mr. Hearty looked about him as if for something at
which to clutch, then with sudden inspiration he said, "Millie, we
will have a hymn."

"'Ere, let me get out," cried Bindle in mock alarm. "I can't stand
Wheezy Willie again, too much of one note. Good night, Martha. My,
ain't you gettin' fat," he remarked as he stood looking down at Mrs.
Hearty, whereat she went off into wheezes and heavings of laughter.
"S'long, 'Earty, I 'ope the allotments won't ruin you," and Bindle
took his departure.

Millie went down to the door to see him out. "Uncle Joe," she
whispered, as she bade him good night, "I understood."

"Oh, you did, did you?" said Bindle. "Ain't we getting a wise little
puss, Millikins," and Bindle walked home whistling "The Long, Long
Trail."

CHAPTER VIII

THE CHAPEL CONVERSAZIONE

Lady Knob-Kerrick's nomination of the Rev. Andrew MacFie to the vacant
pastorate at the Alton Road Chapel was her way of showing that an
amnest