ewing my sermon for the next day. It must have been quite late
before I concluded, for I distinctly remember my niece had returned
with her servant fully an hour before. Presently I heard the sounds of
a musical instrument in the road, with the accents of someone singing or
rehearsing some metrical composition in words that, although couched
in a language foreign to me, in expression and modulation gave me the
impression of being distinctly adulatory. For some little time, in
the greater preoccupation of my task, I paid little attention to the
performance; but its persistency at length drew me in no mere idle
curiosity to the window. From thence, standing in my dressing-gown,
and believing myself unperceived, I noticed under the large oak in the
roadside the figure of a young man who, by the imperfect light, appeared
to be of Spanish extraction. But I evidently miscalculated my own
invisibility; for he moved rapidly forward as I came to the window, and
in a series of the most extraordinary pantomimic gestures saluted me.
Beyond my experience of a few Greek plays in earlier days, I confess I
am not an adept in the understanding of gesticulation; but it struck me
that the various phases of gratitude, fervor, reverence, and exaltation
were successively portrayed. He placed his hands upon his head,
his heart, and even clasped them together in this manner." To my
consternation the reverend gentleman here imitated Enriquez' most
extravagant pantomime. "I am willing to confess," he continued, "that
I was singularly moved by them, as well as by the highly creditable and
Christian interest that evidently produced them. At last I opened the
window. Leaning out, I told him that I regretted that the lateness of
the hour prevented any further response from me than a grateful though
hurried acknowledgment of his praiseworthy emotion, but that I should be
glad to see him for a few moments in the vestry before service the next
day, or at early candlelight, before the meeting of the Bible class. I
told him that as my sole purpose had been the creation of an evangelical
brotherhood and the exclusion of merely doctrinal views, nothing could
be more gratifying to me than his spontaneous and unsolicited testimony
to my motives. He appeared for an instant to be deeply affected, and,
indeed, quite overcome with emotion, and then gracefully retired, with
some agility and a slight saltatory movement."

He paused. A sudden and overwhelming idea t