o doubt. And they say now that he's going to employ two
town missionaries and a Bible-woman out of his own pocket. Is it true,
think you, sir?"

"It is not unlikely," was the quiet reply.

There was a note of warning in both Mr. Durnford's words and tone; but the
admonitory sign passed unobserved.

"Well, then," resumed Mr. Caske, "think of the money he gave away during
the winter. He seemed to want to do everything himself. There was hardly
anything left for any one else to do."

Mr. Durnford smiled inwardly at the idea of Mr. Caske making a grievance
of the fact that there had been left to him no occasion for benevolence.

"It was nothing but blankets, and coals, and money," continued Mr. Caske.
"And then the families he has picked out of the slums and sent across the
sea! And it's said he'll pay anybody's debts, and gives to any beggar, and
will lend anybody as much money as they like to ask."

At this point Mr. Botterill once more put in his word.

"I heard, only the other day, that Mr. Horn had announced his intention of
presenting the town with a Free Library and a Public Park."

"It's like his impudence!" exclaimed Mr. Kershaw.

"After that I can believe anything," cried Mr. Caske. "The man ought to be
stopped. It's very much to be regretted that he ever came into the money.
And what a fool he is from his own standpoint! When he has got rid of all
his money, it will be doubly hard for him to go back to poverty again."

Mr. Caske was speaking somewhat at random.

"Don't you think, sir," he concluded, with a facetious air, "that
Providence sometimes makes a mistake in these matters?"

The question was addressed to the minister.

"No, never!" exclaimed Mr. Durnford, with an emphasis which caused Mr.
Caske to start so violently, that the stem of his pipe, which he had just
replaced in his mouth, clattered against his teeth. "No, never! And least
of all in the case of friend Horn."

The three critics of "the Golden Shoemaker" stared at the minister in
amazement. They had been led to think Mr. Durnford was substantially in
agreement with their views.

"No, gentlemen," he resumed, "my opinion is quite the reverse of yours. I
believe this almost unlimited wealth has been given to our friend, because
he is eminently fitted to be the steward of his Lord's goods."

This declaration was followed by an awkward pause, which Mr. Caske was the
first to break.

"Perhaps you think, sir," he said, in an injured t