it means anything, means flying over a harvest-field. The martyrdom described would be a natural conclusion, and my picture would be the orthodox representation.

I added that no doubt the picture, which is not uncommon, had probably suggested the old story of the Irishman carrying a scythe over his shoulder, and, upon seeing a salmon in the water, striking it with the but-end of his implement, when, as the story goes, he cut off his own head and his neighbour's right ear. This I have seen in a caricature representing the head falling before him.

As soon as I came to the name Sidwell the Archbishop said, 'Oh, come, let me hear about that name, for you know I am much interested in it.' As to my story he maintained a polite reserve. I see the Sitwells of Rheinshaw derive the name from one Scawald, or Scadwald. There is not much to be made of old spelling. The English Liddells and the Irish Lidwills are of the same original stock, but the former derive the name from Lyddale.

It must have been on the afternoon of Saturday that all went out together to the point where the pleasure-grounds resolved themselves into woods, and where one saw less of the castle and more of the country. The Primate had been well packed up in a Bath-chair, Lady Anne taking care of him. He invited me to accompany them round the woods.

I suppose most people would say they would rather die than not accept such an invitation. That was exactly the choice I had to make; so I felt ; and I concluded not to die immediately. It was cold.

A DISAPPOINTMENT.

33

The air of the woods was dank. The pace had been a creeping one. The stoppages had been frequent. I felt a deadly chill coming up my arms. Three or four months before this I had had a serious warning, and had had to call in the doctor, the first time for half a century. It had, I believed, been the result of a chill.

With extreme mortification, I declined, stating the reason; and Lord Devon kindly took me at a brisk pace a wide reach round the domain, which may be described as an extensive spur of the Great Haldon, commanding the valley of the Exe.

Among other remarkable specimens he showed me what I had not believed to be possible in this climate. It was a eucalyptus, that had attained the size of a full-grown forest-tree, with two feet diameter of solid wood. It was not the variety which runs into long pendent branches; the leaves were small and few, affording little hope of further growth. It had never borne any of the blossoms whose beautiful and elaborate goblet-and-lid-shaped envelope gives the name to the tree.

CHAPTER VII.

RITUALISM.

AT Powderham Castle there was morning and evening service in the chapel. This was part of the old building, whether originally a chapel I know not, but

VOL. I.

D

now of a thoroughly ecclesiastical character. The chancel screen was temporary I think. In the order of the day, posted about the house, I saw that there was early Communion on Sunday. There had been some negotiation with the Bishop of the Diocese on the subject; for though the community of a castle may be regarded as a parish, still there were parochial claims to be considered. Half-past seven had been selected as a time which would not come in competition with any parish service.

I think I was waked by the chapel bell, but I was in the chapel. though approached through a labyrinth of passages, before the bell went down. The congregation was assembled. The day before this I had turned to the right and taken a seat amongst the members of the household. I was now directed into the part enclosed by the screen, and I took my seat in a stall on the north side. In a minute, the Archbishop, in his overcoat, came in and took his seat opposite.

In a minute more a door opened south of the Altar, and there came in the priest, and a very youthful attendant, both in embroidered vestments. Either there were frequent bowings and genuflections, crossings, an actual elevation of the Host, and a good deal more, or my imagination has overmastered me. and supplied it all. The celebrant communicated in both kinds; then administered in both kinds to the acolyte, as I venture to call him. Then the Archbishop, crossing over, came and knelt at the rail towards my end of it. I took my place at his side. We received in both kinds and withdrew. Then

THE CHASUBLE

35

came the family, the household, and the rest of the congregation, including about twenty young women of an industrial home-I forget the exact name—in the park, under Lady Anne's management. Altogether there must have been about fifty communicants. Everybody in and about the castle, I was told, communicated, except a stable-boy who had not yet been confirmed.

We all went to the usual morning service at the village of Powderham. The church was full. Lord Devon read the lessons, and it was a pleasure to hear them so read. After service the Archbishop remained to look at the numerous Courtney monuments and the painted windows. I did also. On our leaving the church together, he turned round and asked, 'Did you ever see a chasuble worn at Communion before?' I had to make the disgraceful confession that I did not know what a chasuble was, and that I had supposed the vestment to be a cope. 'Oh no,' he replied, ‘a cope encloses the whole body, leaving just room for the two hands, joined palm to palm, to come out in front,' and then he suited the action to the word. The chasuble is a close-fitting vestment, leaving the arms free, and designed apparently to save the ampler formation of the surplice from embarrassing the celebrant. Convenient as it is, and rather ungraceful, it is made the most of by a full-sized cross embroidered on the back.

I cannot help asking my readers what creature wears a chasuble. Some will answer at once. Some would not for a hundred years. Look into any brook flowing over gravel, and you may see a little bit of

straw, or wood, rolling over the pebbles, and coming to a short rest now and then. Fix your eyes on it, and you will see tiny legs before and behind. This is the caddis-worm, that envelops itself with a jacket of straw, or of sand glued together, to protect its very frail structure from the points and edges upon which its lot is cast. The root of caddis and chasuble is the same. Anglers know the creature well, for it is a favourite bait; but few of them can ever have invested it with ritualistic associations.

'I suppose,' said the Archbishop, 'all this would make a disturbance if done in a parish church.' I will not say that he added, 'People will do what they please in their own houses,' because it is what I have often said myself. The truth is, an Englishman's house is his temple as well as his castle, and he reigns in it like the King of Salem, receiving homage from patriarchs and hierarchies. By the bye, has nobody with a good range of society favoured the public with a description of the many services and rituals he has had the happiness to join in? Such a work might be commended to the attention of the gentleman who has published so many vivid pictures of the various orthodoxies and heterodoxies, and what not, to be found in the pulpits of the metropolis.

'But what opinion had the Archbishop himself of this ceremonial?' I seem to hear some of my readers asking. I cannot remember that he expressed either approval or disapproval. But this might be because I was myself in that mood.

At dinner that day I found myself sitting next