iately. Then he supposed it was part of
the joke, and proceeded to give the other details.

'Mr. Howitt,'--a tremulous pause,--'it is very strange about poor
Trilium, she has always been such a good, dear cow; the children are
very fond of her, and my mother was very fond of her when she was a
heifer. The last summer before she died, Trilium fed out of mother's
hand, and now--she's in perfect health as far as we can see, but father
says that if she keeps on refusing to give her milk he will be obliged
to sell her.'

Miss Torrance, who was usually strong and dignified, spoke now in a very
appealing voice.

'Couldn't you get an old farmer to look at her, or a vet?'

'But why do you think she has suddenly stopped giving milk?' persisted
the girl.

'I am very sorry, but I really don't know anything about animals,' said
he.

'Oh, then if you don't know anything about them----' She paused. There
had been such an evident tone of relief in her voice that he wondered
much what would be coming next. In a moment she said, 'I quite agreed
with you the other night when you said the superstition about witchcraft
was degrading.'

'No one could think otherwise.' He was much puzzled at the turn of her
thought.

'Still, of course, _about animals_, old people like Mistress Betty
M'Leod may know something.'

As they talked they were walking down the street in the calm of the
summer evening to the prayer meeting. The student's mind was intent upon
his duties, for, as they neared the little white-washed church, many
groups were seen coming from all sides across the grassy space in which
it stood. He was an earnest man, and his mind became occupied with the
thought of the spiritual needs of these others who were flocking to hear
him preach and pray.

Inside the meeting-room, unshaded oil lamps flared upon a congregation
most serious and devout. The student felt that their earnestness and
devotion laid upon him the greater responsibility; he also felt much
hindered in his speech because of their ignorance and remote ways of
thought. It was a comfort to him to feel that there was at least one
family among his hearers whose education would enable them to understand
him clearly. He looked with satisfaction at the bench where Mr. Torrance
sat with his children. He looked with more satisfaction to where Miss
Torrance sat at the little organ. She presided over it with dignity and
sweet seriousness. She drew music even out of its squeak