"Blake is right, Leech.

You have no right to

speak to him, and I have a great mind

Dyce went up, and whispered earnestly into his ear for a few minutes, and Sir Lionel then turned to Blake, and told him to leave the farm at Michaelmas. William bowed, and retired.

It was no fear which made him take so gloomy a view of what the reader may think a very trivial matter. He felt almost sure, from the first, that the business would end as it did.

When William arrived at his father's house, he found Mr. Lee there, and when he had told his sad tale, he sat down exhausted and dispirited.

come.

"We must remember our principles," said his kind friend, "when the time for proving them is Your principles are those of trust and submission, and this trial is not testing your principles, but you; is proving how far they have entered into you, and become part of yourself. You must now bring into use the stores which you have laid up in happier days, I was going to say better, but 'Blessed are they that mourn,' and Count it all joy when ye fall into temptation:' for, if this anxiety and loss wean you from earth, and, by making you wholly dependent upon God's extraordinary providence, render your soul more dependent upon Him, then you will ever after find it a blessing; and you will understand what that meaneth, the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold.""

Yes, cheer up, William," said Mr. Blake, "you

must not be cast down. I know you feel for your mother and me, as if you had done it all; but I should have acted just the same, or I ought to have done. We must come and see you wherever you settle, and by God's blessing you will make up in time the loss of changing farms."

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"We can do on £50 instead of the £100," added Mrs. Blake; "we do not spend all we have now." "And I," said Ellen, can take some pupils if we are short, for I know music, and Mr. Lee has made me read more than I ever did before."

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"This is that which I spoke of," said Mr. Lee, with tears in his eyes; your affliction is calling forth self-denial and generosity, and love more precious than gold. Only keep to them. Now you are excited; by-and-by the loss will appear heavier, your feelings will be more dull and worn, and oppressed; pray together, and read such parts of Scripture, and of your devotional books, as you know will help you. God forbid that I should

cease to pray for you!"

The news soon spread, and the dissatisfaction it occasioned was great and ill-concealed. "What do we owe Sir Lionel?" said one; "he never gives anything away, and he is turning out the only people that do, except the parson." "I wish Master Blake was the owner of the Moat House," cried another ; "we should have very different doings then, I warrant." Some of these observations reached the ears of the landlord, and he could see by the altered

looks of the labourers on the farm that they hated him for what he had done. He was too proud to unsay his word, and his companions also urged him to be firm; but still he was so uncomfortable that he shortened his visit, and left Great Staunton before the week was over, after a long and fruitless conversation with the Rector.

CHAPTER XVI.

A Sunday well spent,

"Haply down some opening glade

Now the old grey tower we see,
Underneath whose solemn shade
Jesus risen hath sworn to be."

LYRA INNOCENTIUM.

AFTER some deliberation, William resolved to spend the little time that was left in the old house, and they returned to it for Sunday. But they had scarcely sat down to tea, when a gig drove up, and a young man of a foreign look jumped out, and, after paying his driver, walked with his carpetbag into the old hall where they were sitting. It was Edward Jones, who had come back an invalid, but the possessor of £5000. His tale was soon

and then it

told, and William's in exchange; appeared, that the home-man was strong, and blessed with a good wife whom he dearly loved, but in altered worldly circumstances; whilst the wanderer had returned with broken health, and a full purse-a solitary. No sensible person would have hesitated in choosing William's lot, in pre

ference to his cousin's, bad as some of his prospects then were.

Next day, Edward was surprised to see the change in William and the Moat House. At half-past seven they met at prayers; at eight they breakfasted. From half-past nine until church-time William and Ellen taught in the new schools, under Mr. Lee. At a quarter to eleven the school marched out by two and two towards the church; behind it the choir boys, eight in number, chanting Psalm lxxxiv. ; after them the teachers, who joined in the chant; and last of all the Rector, in his cassock and сар and gown.

The church, too, was a changed building, and so were the services. All was very plain and simple still, but strictly correct and in harmony with sacred objects. The font stood at the entrance. The altar caught the eye in passing up the nave. The singing and chanting were very fair; and, what is more, quite natural, simple, and heartfelt. The majority of the congregation knelt and rose at the proper times. The responses were deep and musical, following the tone of the choir. The earnest sermon was listened to with great attention. The offertory was responded to cheerfully, and as much as £2 collected from that small flock; and when the service was over the people left the church very slowly, and quietly dispersed.

Edward was much struck. Two or three years ago he would have objected to much which he witnessed as formalism, and as connected with Popery;