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Halborongh assured Mrs, Fellmer that he would certainly bear the message; but as to her coming he was not go sure. The real truth was, however, that the matter would be decided by him, Rosa having an almost filial respect for his wishes. But be was uncertain as to the state of her wardrobe, and had determined that she should not enter the manor-house at a disadvantage that evening, when there would probably be plenty of opportunities in the future of her doing so becomingly.

He walked to the farm in long strides. This, then, was the outcome of hia first morning’s work as curate here. Things had gone fairly well with bim. He had been ordained; he was in a comfortable parish, where he would exercise almost sole supervision, the rector being infirm. He had made a deep impression at starting, and the absence of a hood seemed to have done him no harm. Moreover, by considerable persuasion and payment, his father and the dark woman had heen shipped off to Canada, where they were not likely to interfere greatly with his interests.

Rosa came out to meet him. “Ah! you should have gone to church like a good girl,” he said.

“Yea-—I wished I had afterwards. But I do so hate church as a rule that even your preaching was underestimated in my mind. It waa too bad of me!”

The girl who spoke thus playfully was fair, tall, and sylph-like, in a muslin dress, and with just the coquettish désinvolture which an English girl brings home from abroad, and loses again after a few months of native life. Joshua was the reverse of playful; the world was too important a concern for him to indulge in Hght moods. He told her in decided, practical phraseology of the invitation.

“Now, Rosa, we must go—that’s settled—if you've a dress that can be made fit to wear all on the hop like