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awe than of the bishop himself, emerged from the gate and entered a path across the close. The pair met the dignitary, and to Joshua’s horror his father turned and addressed the subdean.

What passed between them he could not tell But as he stood in a cold sweat he saw his father place his hand familiarly on the snbdean’s shoulder; the shrinking response of the latter, and his quick withdrawal,told hia feeling. The woman seemed to say nothing, but when the subdean had passed by they came on towards the college gate.

Haiborough flew along the corridor and ont at a side door, so as to intercept them before they could reach the front entrance, for which they were making. He caught them behind a clump of iaurel.

“By Jerry, here’s the very chap! Well, you’re a fine fellow, Jos, never to send your father as much as a twist o’ bacoy on such an occasion, and to leave him to travel all these miles to find ye out!”

First, who ia this?” said Joshua Halborough, with pale dignity, waving his hand towards the buxom woman with the great ear-rings.

“Dammy, the mis'ess! Your step-mother. Didn't you know I'd married? She helped me home from market one night, and we came to terms, and strack the bargain. Didn’t we, Selinar?”

"Oi, by the great Lord an’ we did !” simpered the lady.

Well, what sort of a place is this you are living in?" asked the millwright. “A kind of house of correction, apparently.”

Joshua listened abstractedly, his features set to resignation. Sick at heart he was going to ask them if they were in want of any necessary, any meal, when his father cut him short by saying, “ Why, we've called to ask ye to come round and take pot-luck with us at