and had experienced
but little of the sweets of the territorial sentiment. He walked along
in high good-humor, and enjoyed his triumphal progress, though he made
himself believe that it was only the quaint, rural, and Old-world smack
of it which pleased him.

Here and there he paused, and was affable with a county elector, but
when he reached the lich-gate he was altogether friendly with Fuller and
Sennacherib, and shook hands with Isaiah with actual warmth.

"Mr. Hales was dining at the Hall last night," he said. "He told us that
some of the local people were in favor of an organ for the church, and
had talked about getting up a subscription, but he wouldn't listen to
the idea."

"Should think not," said Sennacherib. "Parson knows when he's well off."

"Indeed he does," returned Ferdinand; "he looks on the band as being
quite a part of the church, and says that he would hardly know the place
without it."

"A horgin!" grunted Sennacherib, scornfully. "An' when they'd got it,
theer's some on 'em as 'ud niver be content till they'd got a monkey in
a scarlit coat to sit atop on it."

"I hardly think they want _that_ kind of organ, Mr. Eld," said
Ferdinand, smoothly.

"I do' know why they shouldn't," returned Sennacherib. "It's nothin' but
their Christian humbleness as could mek 'em want it at all. The Lord's
made 'em a bit better off than their neighbors, an' they feel it
undeserved. It's castin' pearls afore swine to play for half on 'em
about here."

Fuller, with both hands posed on the baize-clad head of the 'cello,
which the small boy had surrendered to him some moments before, shook
his fat ribs at this so heartily that Sennacherib himself re laxed into
a surly grin, and then Ferdinand felt him self at liberty to laugh also.

"You are rather severe upon your audience, Mr. Eld," he said.

"A tongue like a file, our Sennacherib's got," said the mild Isaiah.
"Touches nothin' but what he rasps clean through it."

Ferdinand raised his hat at this moment and made a forward step, with
his delicately gloved right hand extended.

"Good-morning, Miss Fuller."

Mr. De Blacquaire prided himself, and not without reason, on his own
_aplomb_ and self-possession, but he felt now a curious fluttering
sensation to which he had hitherto been an entire stranger.

Ruth accepted his proffered hand and responded to his salute, and then
shook hands with the two brethren. Ferdinand, with a jealousy at which
he shortly found