The Village by the River

hrough the starlight nig

wo special subjects for thanksgiving stood out in strong relief: first, that he had received positive proof that he possessed the confidence of the majority of his parishioners; and secondly, that an accident-a deliverance

iritual life that was in her had touched his, and he trusted that the foundation of a deeper, truer, more lasting friends

itted to his care. He had seen enough of society to realize both its fascination and its special temptations; and the well

he stumbled against a man's figure propped against the gate-post. The man lurched heavily forward, and would hav

avy sigh, for the mere touch of the inert body showe

ders, "rouse yourself, and get home to bed. To-morrow we will

rain to some sense of shame, and instin

on't go home; same roof shan't

other men employed at the Court were lodged in rooms over the

ng to leave you out here all night, for the sake of your o

obedience. Once more, therefore, the rector had to retrace his steps, and half supported, half led, he presently landed Tom Burney in the stable-yard of the Court. A light burning in one

rector recognized as Dixon's. "It would ser

to wrest himself from the strong restraining hand la

oritative tones. "Just come down and open the door, please. I found Burney like this, and brou

nd his charge. By a rapid signal Mr. Curzon directed Dixon to conceal himself in an angle of the staircase, whilst he gave Tom a helping hand up t

ght, I think," he said to Dixo

efore he wakes in the morning. I'm sorry you've had all this trouble. I tried my best to get him to come along quietly with me, but I h

ed the rector. "But in the last few months, I fear

this time of night, I should like to know?" grumbled Dixon aloud, as he closed the door. "B

most promising young fellows in the place. He let himself quietly into the rectory, shading the light with his hand as he passed the door of Kitty's room; but a half-stifled cry of "Daddy!" a

Kitty mean by lying

rpose, at first, because you promised to come a

that any more if it

ght he said something about fire. But Nurse said I was silly, a

om, litt

ressed sob. "I thought you might be

id her father, with a little laugh that ha

h long names that the fire did not hurt; b

was like the Son of God," said the rector, gently. "And He was close by you, Kitty, altho

re tears in his eyes as he kissed his little daught

suffer, with her crippled body and

ty the story of the previous evening, qui

e as you are, daddy," said Kitty, whose terror seemed

her father, good-humouredly. "

smallpox, and knocked down a costermonger for kicking his pony. That was brave, wasn

re bravery so much, you'll have to learn a little more about it yourself; and not lie awake eve

ty an opportunity of rap

e, father? What

in some form or other, which affects pe

s?" asked Ki

t just like that, darling; I wo

d a stroke. I heard some one tell Nurse so; and, of course, I must go

n say we will make her some if you like," said the rector, who always

afternoon before he found himself rapping at

s well as we could hope. She's had a visitor this afternoon," with a glance round at the chimney-corner from which Sally Lessing's

time, I'll be here. Miss Lessing, our way home l

h a tête-à-tête with the rector was not much to her taste-especia

own here? Do you like it?" he ask

ce,-but the novelty is wearing off. And Paul said this morning that we were both of us fish out

ular pond do you

d, is it? but rather a great, strong river. You

se to do it," replie

would only want workers o

ay of thinking you mean the Church to which

ch lines. I've been allowed to think for myself, and judge the trut

judgment, does it not? In your case, I should say, your v

quickly. "You've got your ideas, either from the people wh

le; but the only person upon whose judgment and character I find I can wholly rely, is t

ory in the Gospels are that Christ lived an

nt day; that men and women, tied and bound with the chain of their sins, looking to Him and asking help, can rise and walk in the glorious liberty of the sons of God. When I see that, as, thank God, I hav

sincerity of the speaker, but the very simplicity o

re to me. I feel it's not a bit of good telling them to be good in this world, and they will be happy in the next, whilst they have bad houses to live in, and bad food to eat, and insufficient wages, and neve

up, and broke into

she said; "but Paul has interested me in them, and I had thought, if I went

the best speakers I e

ould be sure to

uld I, u

ess

hom I serve," said the rector. "On philanthropi

d Sally, eagerly. "I've told you that I am only a seeker afte

if you are ready to acknowledge a Power higher than yourself, to Whom you may safely

rt such a conviction would bring with it. She made no mention of her talk to the rector to Paul

towards the road. The very poise of his head, and droop of his shoulders, showed depression of bo

id cheerily. "I thought you would b

andsome eyes sought his; t

elling you that I've got the sack for what happened last night. Dixon

ur quarrel

, a little huskily; "and he don't care what he does as long a

ortly; "you made yourself drunk

ht what happened. We were a

of your own free

n offered me another glass; and Allison laughed and said, 'Don't you take it, young 'un; head ain't strong and temper too short.' And I told him I could dri

e willing to help yourself, for I think, to a certain extent, you've been hardly done by. If you are sorry for what has happened, and really wish to turn over a new leaf, and make yourself worthy o

nd what would he call me but a coward if I signed the pledge, just because I've

fer you is that of gardener at the rectory. Old Plumptree is retiring on a pension; he's too old to do the work any longer. But I tell you frankly that I dare not undertake the responsibility of keeping you here unle

dily accepted the required condition, and should be thankful for the situation that he offered, when, as i

," thought poor Tom; "but

all the lot of 'em calling me a fool who can't take his glass without getting drunk; I'll show 'em different. But I'll promise you this: it's

l not keep," answered Mr. Curzon, sadly. "But you'

you kindly all the same," said Tom. "

uble I shall be glad to see you. I don't wish you to think that this difference of op

sing started for his walk, Tom

touching his hat; "but I want t

aker with dawning reco

ave me a lift for nothing the fir

since. I shouldn't have spoke so fre

r person to find me a lodging, at any rate; and you certainly spoke

ut I'm leaving th

own fre

otice because I came

bit, may I ask?

Tom, lifting fearless eyes

, then. What kind o

rden; but I know som

my own hands, and I think I can find you work amongst the horses. I'll see the bailiff a

nterview with Rose; and if he showed himself willing and ready to do the thing that came to his hand, he might rise to

u're ready to take me without a character

the tale to Sally later in the day. "Here was this poor fellow dismissed without a chara

d notice from the gardener, who had not thought it w