e of the child. That was solved by the hostess
of the Ship.

The parish endeavored to cajole the good woman into receiving the
babe as a gift from Heaven, and to exact no compensation for her
labors in rearing it, for the expense of clothing, feeding,
educating it. But Mrs. Verstage was deaf to such solicitations.
She would take charge of the child, but paid she must be. Eventually
the parochial authorities, after having called a vestry, and sat
three hours in consultation, and to "knuckle under," as the hostess
expressed it, and allow a trifle for the entertainment of the
little waif.

So the matter was settled.

Then another had to be determined. What about the christening
performed in the shed by Iver? What about the outlandish name
given the child? The landlady raised no question on these heads
till it was settled that the little being was to be an inmate of
her house, and under her care. Then she reasoned thus--"Either
this here child be a Mehetabel or she bain't. Either it's a
Christian or it's a heathen. What is it? Is it fish, is it flesh,
or is it good red herring? It ain't no use my calling her Mehetabel
if she bain't nothing of the sort. And it ain't no use teachin'
her the caterplasm, if she ha'n't been made a Christian. I'll go
and ax the pa'son."

Accordingly the good woman took Iver by the shoulder and dragged
him to Witley Vicarage, and stated her case and her difficulties.
The Vicar had already had wind of what had occurred. Thursley was
at the period a chapelry in the extensive parish of Witley, and
the church therein had, before the Reformation, been regularly
served by the monks of Witley Abbey. It was afterwards more or
less irregularly supplied with sacred ministrations from the
mother-church, and had no resident pastor.

In former days the parishioners were never very sure whether there
was to be a service in Church at Thursley or not. The sexton was
on the look-out, and if he saw the parson's wig glimmering over
the hedge top, as he rode along, then he at once rushed to the
bell-rope and announced to such of the parishioners as were within
hearing, that there was to be divine service. If there were no
service, then those who had come from a distance in expectation of
devotion, retired to the tavern and drank and gossiped, and were
not disposed to cavil. The Church of Thursley is curious, it has
a central bell-tower supported on huge beams of oak, such oaks they
must have been as are neve