conversation with, or rather act of listening to, the vicar.

'How interested you appear to be,' whispered the colonel, sitting down
behind her.

Rowland saw this little bit of by-play, and wished himself in London;
whilst Colonel Vaughan joined in the vicar's archaeological description
of the quarry in which he had met with his accident. Freda heard all
that Rowland said more distinctly than what passed close at her side.

She heard her father and Lady Mary's repeated entreaties that he would
remain until the end of the week, and the decided, but polite refusal of
Rowland. She heard her father prophecy that he would soon have a good
living, and Rowland's reply, 'that without interest or any particular
talent for what is called "popular preaching," there was little chance
of church preferment. 'But,' he added, 'I am well content to be only a
curate. There is enough to do in my parish to keep one from morning to
night employed, and that in real, active, heart-stirring work, that will
not let one flag if one would wish it.'

'I thould like to thee the Eatht End, mamma,' said Miss Nugent. 'People
in the Wetht theem to think all the inhabitanths barbarians.'

'It is a pity they don't come and try to civilise us, then,' said
Rowland. 'We should be very glad of their help.'

'I will go if mamma will let me,' said Miss Nugent.

Lady Mary smiled somewhat superciliously, and observed that she did not
think she would be of much use.

'All who have a desire to do good will make a path of usefulness, Lady
Mary, I think,' said Rowland. 'In these days the enlightened must not
hide their light under a bushel. We live in stirring, striving times,
when good and evil seem at terrible issue.'

'And which will conquer?' broke in Colonel Vaughan suddenly. 'I don't
see that all the meetings and tracts have done much, as yet, towards
their part in the fight.'

'Good must conquer eventually,' said Rowland, 'and is conquering daily
and hourly.'

'In your East End parish?'

'We hope so. If our progress is slow we are not without encouragement
even there, in the very thick of the battle, and where the armies of
evil are ten to one against good.'

'I know something of fighting, Mr Rowland, and I fear the odds are too
great. You may as well give up the conflict.'

'Remember, Colonel Vaughan, that in all the great battles of antiquity,
and not a few of modern times--the Swiss for example--those who fought
for freedom and right ha