CHAPTER XVIII.

"It is not growing like a tree

In bulk doth make man better be,

Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,
To fall at last a log, dry, bald and sear.

A lily of a day

Is fairer far in May."

BEN JONSON.

"FROM what we have just seen, my love, it strikes me that your interference will not be much longer required," observed Mr. Singleton, as he joined his wife, who had been waiting for him in the pretty churchyard outside.

"It never had been required," she answered with a smile, "although I must confess that when Mrs. Hamilton first confided her plan to me I felt excessively disinclined to undertake the charge-it appeared such a risk!"

"Now that everything has prospered, however, I suppose we may admit that it was worth the risk?" pursued Mr. Singleton, in an inquiring tone.

"It was, indeed!" returned the lady,' with evident sincerity; "but at the time it seemed most preposterous to imagine that that terrible old man would tolerate the presence of a strange child in his house even for the space of a single hour!"

"Just look at them," said her husband as they emerged into the open road, and he pointed to two figures slowly sauntering along within Mr. Faversham's own grounds, which extended to the very gates. of the churchyard; "how happy they both seem."

"Yes; the old man's eye lights up whenever it rests upon her sweet face; and as for the child herself, it is quite easy to see that she loves him with all her heart. I told Crossley long ago that she must be sure and apply to me in case the little darling should be in want of anything in the way of clothes or money, but she says Mr. Faversham has given her the strictest orders to see that she is provided with everything that befits a child in his own station; and as whatever tends to make him more open-hearted must of

necessity produce a most beneficial effect his own disposition, I have not thought it advisable to check his liberality."

upon

"Quite right!" said Mr. Singleton, approvingly; "the more he spends upon her the better it will be for himself— it will render him far less narrow-minded and selfish than he has hitherto been, and will also lead him to prize her more than would otherwise be the case, and take a greater personal interest in her welfare."

"Don't you think you might venture to call upon him now that he has made his appearance at church?" suggested the lady after a pause; "it would perhaps encourage him to persevere

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Mr. Singleton shook his head as he answered, in a quick, decided tone-"I should probably do more harm than good were I to see him in his present unsettled state of mind. His coming here this afternoon was, I strongly suspect, simply to gratify some whim of his little companion, and it would be placing both him and myself in a wrong position were I to pre

tend to understand the matter in a different

light."

"I hope, however, you are mistaken in concluding that this was his sole motive," exclaimed the lady; "for, unless my eyes deceived me, he had another and better reason for coming to church to-day."

Mr. Singleton gazed wonderingly at her, but said nothing, and she continued "His countenance looked strangely softened, and I fancied I could detect signs of no ordinary emotion upon it. During some part of the service, indeed, his agitation was excessive, and several times he seemed on the point of breaking down altogether."

"Is it possible!" ejaculated the clergyman, in unmitigated surprise. Then he added, in a more hopeful tone—“ Well, my dear, I trust your surmises may prove correct; and if so, it will be a cause of rejoicing to many besides ourselves."

Mrs. Singleton assented; after which they walked on in silence, until they found themselves standing in the middle of their own lawn, from whence they could obtain a glimpse of several happy little faces smiling

down upon them, from one of the upper windows of the pleasantly-situated Vicarage.

This pretty sight did not, on the present occasion, call forth an answering smile from Mrs. Singleton. She appeared unusually grave as she turned to her husband, and said, feelingly, though with some abruptness of manner, "I cannot help thinking that it must be very bad for poor little Lily to have no society except that of Mr. Faversham and the servants at the Hall. I often wish we could get her down here sometimes; it would be such a change for her to have a game of play with our children."

"I dare say it would," returned Mr. Sin-1 gleton, preparing to go indoors; "but you must not expect to do everything at onceby-and-by, perhaps, we may be able to manage it. In the meantime we will be patient, and hope for the best."

And, having uttered these words of encouragement, he shut himself into his study; while Mrs. Singleton proceeded to divest herself of her walking attire, pondering over what she had seen that afternoon, and wondering whether she could not contrive some