atch
and comment on in his own mind with intense study. True, he watched
without understanding, and commented wrongly; for he had too little
experience of the motives of others from outward observation, and found
too little sympathy with the general motives of the world, in his own
heart, to judge even those he loved rightly. But the conduct, the looks,
the words of ordinary men, he hardly took the trouble of remarking; and
the good parson's surprise and hesitation, passed like breath upon a
mirror, seen perhaps, but retaining no hold upon his mind for a moment.
Neither did the abrupt question surprise him; nor the quick, angry look
which it called up on the face of the attorney attract his notice; but
he replied quietly to Mr. Dixwell, "I do not remember having made any
appointment with you."

The matter was all well so far; and would have continued well; but the
attorney, a meddling fellow, had nearly spoiled all, by calling the
attention of Philip Hastings more strongly to the strangeness of the
clergyman's question.

"Perhaps," said the man of law, interrupting the baronet in the midst,
"Perhaps Mr. Dixwell thought, Sir Philip, that you came here to speak
with me on the business of the Honorable Mrs. Hazleton. She told me she
would consult you, and I can explain the whole matter to you."

But the clergyman instantly declared that he meant nothing of the kind;
and at the same moment Sir Philip Hastings said, "I beg you will not,
sir. Mrs. Hazleton will explain what she thinks proper to me, herself. I
desire no previous information, as I am now on my way to her. Why my
good friend here should suppose I came by appointment, I cannot tell.
However, I did not; and it does not matter. I only wish, Mr. Dixwell, to
say, that I hear the old woman Danley is ill and dying. She is a papist,
and the foolish people about fancy she is a witch. Little help or
comfort will she obtain from them, even if they do not injure or insult
her. As I shall be absent all night, and perhaps all to-morrow, I will
call at her cottage as I ride over to Mrs. Hazleton's and inquire into
her wants. I will put down on paper, and leave there, what I wish my
people to do for her; but there is one thing which I must request you to
do, namely, to take every means, by exhortation and remonstrance, to
prevent the ignorant peasantry from troubling this poor creature's
death-bed. Her sad errors in matters of faith should only at such a
moment make us feel