to his words; and to confess the truth, he too was a little distracted by the well-filled pew beneath him.

The Dales, Exelbys, and the Shruggs of Shrugg Park, sat in the chancel above the mouldering bones of their ancestors. The Shruggs' pew was tenanted only by one lady, a white-haired, tall, elegant woman, with large black eyes ever moving restlessly around her; this was Mrs. Robert Shrugg. She drove into Clack with a page by her side, and a mounted groom following her low phaeton. Holding the boy's shoulder, she walked proudly through the church to her seat-taking no notice of any one, though her eyes seemed to regard all. Mr. Theodore's little fair face glowed as she passed him, and he ran his fingers nervously through his scanty light whiskers. At the pew wherein the Francis Shruggs sat, she almost stopped, and Mr. Francis half rose; but she went quickly on to her accustomed seat without any further token of recognition. After service, most of

the élite of the town found an

excuse for loitering in the churchyard; Miss Wright and the lawyer's wife were more especially anxious to watch the new arrivals out.

Alas for Miss Wright's patronage! She saw with amazement Mrs. Dale-Mrs., not Mr., stand-absolutely stand aside at the porch, instead of hastening to her carriage as usual, and the moment Mrs. Francis Shrugg came out, rush forward and seize her hand; then such a greeting passed between them as only old friends long parted give each other; and meantime old Mr. Dale and young Mr. Dale were smiling and bowing amongst the young ladies.

Alas

In the background, a little distance apart from the stream of the outgoing congregation, stood Mrs. Robert, leaning on her page. for Clack patronage! The chief tradespeople's doubts were at once and for ever quelled; and even Miss Wright, who had been educated at York, began to fear she had been a little premature in expressing her opinion. The fact is,

Mrs. Dale and Mrs. Francis Shrugg had met years ago when unmarried girls, and had conceived a great affection for each other. Since then, circumstances had prevented them meeting again, and the correspondence had ceased when Mrs. Dale married her first husband and went to India. Until Mrs. Dale recognised her old friend in Clack Church as the wife of the man she had so much pitied, she had no idea of what had become of pretty Susan Greville. "But if I'd seen your daughter accidentally," cried lively Mrs. Dale, pointing to Susy, “I should have gone up to her. She's your living image."

The greeting between the husbands was as warm. "But for all these youngsters," Mr. Dale cried, "I could fancy you and I were Frank and Johnny again. Shrugg, do you remember how we used to dodge behind the others here, and make appointments for the next meet, eh? Jolly days those, eh? Not many horses up to our weight now across

country? And you've no boys, I hear. Well, I've only one, and he is quite enough." And then he winked at his old friend, and glanced admiringly at his son, who was successfully imitating his parents in cordiality to the new arrivals.

or

"You'll come and see us to-morrow next day," Mrs. Dale said, as they walked all together across the churchyard to the carriage.

No," Mrs. Francis answered; "we've no carriage, and we've put ourselves out of the pale of our own set. It's all altered now,

Gertrude."

Ah,

"What nonsense!" Mrs. Dale cried. never mind, I'll come and see you first, then ; but I could never stand humbug you know. Mr. Shrugg, you'll all come over to us, won't you, if we send the carriage?"

"I think not," he replied, gravely. "We have accepted our present position."

"Did you ever hear such folks?" Mrs. Dale cried to her husband. "They're already so

enamoured of Clack, I suppose, that they won't know us poor country people. Why, Susan, don't you care to renew our old friendship ?” "That is an unfair way of putting it, Gertrude," Mrs. Francis Shrugg exclaimed.

"Ah!

Mrs. Dale suddenly took her hand. my dear Susan," she said; "I do understand all about it. But you musn't fancy real regard flies when misfortune comes; besides," she added, with a quick change again to her usual lively manner, "you're folks of landed property yet, you know."

The Dales had hardly driven away from the gates of the churchyard, and the Shruggs were just moving on, when a page boy darted forward to stop Mr. Francis.

"Mrs. Shrugg wants you, please, sir," he said. Mr. Francis stood irresolute; then seeing the helpless figure all alone, and remembering how she must have been waiting within hearing of all their hearty greetings, he followed the boy back to his mistress.