had been pre-engaged till late at noon, and Darrell was just leav- ing home, and at his street-door, when the uncle and nephew- came. They respected his time too much to accept his offer to come in, but walked beside him for a few minutes, as he bestowed upon George those compliments which are sweet to the ear of rising men from the lips of those who have risen.
"I remember you, George, as a boy," said Darrell, " and thanked you then for good advice to a school-fellow who is lost to your counsels now." He faltered an instant, but went on firmly: " You had then a slight defect in utterance, which, I understood from your uncle, increased as you grew older; so that I never anticipated for you the fame that3'0u are achieving. Orator fit—you must have been admirably taught. In the man- agement of your voice, in the excellence of your delivery, I see that you are one of the few who deem that the Divine Word should not be unworthily uttered. The debater on beer bills may be excused from studying the orator's effects; but all that enforce, dignify, adorn, make the becoming studies of him who strives by eloquence to people heaven; whose task it is to adjure the thoughtless, animate the languid, soften the callous, humble the proud, alarm the guilty, comfort the sorrowful, call back to the fold the lost. Is the culture to be slovenly where the glebe is so fertile? The only field left in modern times for the ancient ora- tor's sublime conceptions, but laborious training, is the Preach- er's. And I own, George, that I envy the masters who skilled to the Preacher's art an intellect like yours."
"Masters," said the Colonel, " I thought all those elocution masters failed with you, George. You cured and taught your- self. Did not you } No! Why, then, who was your teacher?"
George looked very much embarrassed, and, attempting to answer, began horribly to stutter.
Darrell, conceiving that a preacher whose fame was not yet confirmed, might reasonably dislike to confess those obligations to elaborate study, which, if known, might detract from his ef- fect, or expose him to ridicule, hastened to change the subject. "You have been to the country, I hear, George; at your living, I suppose?"
"No. I have not been there very lately; travelling about."
"Have you seen Lady Montfort since your return?" asked the Colonel.
"I only returned on Saturday night. I go to Lady Mont- fort's, at Twickenham, this evening."
"She has a delightful retreat," said the Colonel. " But if she wish to avoid admiration, she should not make the banks of the
