were Ellen's words less distinct, although her voice was lower. But when William came to his second answer, and repeated clearly, 'I, William, take thee, Ellen, to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health,' suddenly Mr. Lee's words flashed across him, 'You may lose property, or health, or a child, or-Ellen,' and he paused, and finished in a low and stifled voice,'till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance, and thereto I plight thee my troth.' This was enough to upset poor Ellen utterly. Mr. Lee saw that it was doing so, and, catching her eye, looked with the kindest expression, upwards. His meaning flashed through her still more quickly than he was able to express it, and she was calm.

After the Blessing, the Rector led the procession from the nave of the church to the altar, chanting the psalm, as he went, with some of his choir, and the service proceeded as usual; but, when it was concluded, Mr. Lee remained at the Communion table, and many of the party knelt down there, whilst others retired. The Communion Service then commenced, and William and Ellen never entered into it more fully than then. It spoke to them of that higher union between the Church and every member of it with the Head of the Church, of which their marriage was the copy and symbol. It reminded them of the supper of Canaan, and that Christ could still turn the water into wine

all their lives long. And never had they realised so fully the presence of their Saviour, invisibly doing everything which is done in His name, through the visible hand of man, as when they remembered the words which Mr. Lee had pointed

out

""Tis He who clasps the marriage band,
And fits the spousal ring,

Then leaves ye kneeling, hand in hand,
Out of his stores to bring

His Father's dearest blessing."

:

When the service was completed, and the signatures finished, the communicants retired, peaceful and happy, to the cottage and there they all mounted their various conveyances and left, amid the congratulations of the village, for Mr. Hilton's; where one feast succeeded another for the rest of the day, and even Mr. Blake forgot the trial of his blindness which he had felt so strongly that morning, and, amidst the praises which were bestowed upon his absent son, and the congratulations offered to his wife and himself, was perfectly happy.

The newly-married couple, meantime, had left for a fortnight's trip, in which, by Mr. Lee's advice, they saw Winchester, Stone Henge, Salisbury, the New Forest, and the Isle of Wight-a nice little journey, full of sweet recollections and cherished feelings for many a year.

But we must not forget a great portion of the festivities, those, namely, which took place at Great Staunton, where, on the following day, in order that

the Blakes might be present, there were dining, and supping, and dancing, and all manner of games, in which the poor who were connected with the family by past or existing relations were rendered as happy as might be, and drank long life and prosperity to William and Ellen Blake; the latter of whom received the following compliment amongst many others:

"I'm blessed, wife, if our young missus didn't look just like our Bess for all the world," said an aged labourer to his partner.

"Your Bess, man!" replied old Blake, who overheard the remark, "why she's as fat as a Leicestershire sheep."

"I knows that. Missus ain't half so fine a gal yet; but may be she'll pick up after a bit."

"It will be a good bit first, I hope, Jem."

"Well, Sir, I hope so too; but may be she'll pick up a good bit, as you say, Sir. Why, our Bess warn't half as big one time, so there's no 'countin'. But she's a nice young thing, if I may be so bold, any how; and I wish our young master health and happiness." But here the handing round the ale cut short Jem's eloquence, and poor Ellen's praises,

CHAPTER XV.

The First Trouble.

Deny me wealth; far, far remove

The love of power or name;

Hope thrives in straits, in weakness Love,
And Faith in this world's shame."

LYRA APOSTOLICA.

WHEN the little tour was over, the happy couple received the congratulations of friends and neighbours, and had quite as much or more visiting than they liked; but this, like everything of the sort, passed away, and William and his wife settled down quietly to their duties.

It would be difficult to invent more perfectly happy circumstances than theirs, with the exception of Mr. Blake's blindness, and the death of John; and to these they had become resigned. Perfect unison, at least as perfect as earthly love may be, competence, a happy, healthy calling, the cottage, and the Rectory, all combined to make them the happiest of the happy. This was their summer, which Mr. Lee had described; and they did not

neglect to improve it. Kind to the poor, industrious, regular at the Daily Service, and at the Holy Communion; improving their time and minds by a regular course of reading prescribed by their friend the Rector; they were as much the admiration as the envy of others.

There was, indeed, an under current of uneasiness, but only such as earnest persons are sure to find. They felt grieved at the poverty of their gratitude, at the tardiness of their spiritual progress, and at many lesser slips and failings. William had still to combat with the relics of old habits: for years of self-indulgence and neglect of the soul are not lightly nor quickly erased, and continually a shoot from the old root of bitterness would spring up, although, by God's help, it was promptly nipped before it strengthened. Yet such trials he had; and it were unwise and unkind to conceal it. We must be prepared to strive with sin and with self all our lives, and the more painfully, the longer we have served them, although our strife, if continued aright, is daily more and more successful, and will result in rest and victory.

This, then, was their summer; and winter seemed to fall suddenly upon them, and without an autumn of warning.

It was on the 28th of August that William opened a letter written in a hand which he had never seen. It was from Sir Lionel Celer, his landlord, a man