"Because everything has happened so differently to what we expected."

"Ah! you were all very kind and good in wishing my advancement; I never really expected it, you know; and now events prove that in reality I had no chance of the living. By-the-bye, I have given Richard permission to speak to Katie to-day, so perhaps after all, Gerty, our darling child may find her future home in the rectory, though we are not to take up our abode there."

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CHAPTER XXXIII.

EASTOWN BELLS AGAIN.

OT long afterwards, Mr. Gurling and Katie return to the room together, and then it becomes evident the young lady has proved a sympathetic consoler after all.

The new rector is wonderfully calmed; indeed, when he looks down into the sweet face of his betrothed, he almost seems to have forgotten the disquietude his honours have brought him.

"Katie has promised to be my wife," he says, as he leads her over to her mother.

"Then may God in His tender mercy give His best blessing to you both, and may your married life be as happy as mine has been !" Gertrude whispers, as she presses her child to her heart.

Leonard catches the whisper, and exclaims,

"Ah, Katie ! though your mother speaks so warmly of the happiness of her married life, she has not had a scene of unclouded sunshine, I assure you. There have been many trials and many sorrows strewed here and there over it." “But even trials fall lightly when they are shared. True affection is a wonderful salve," Gertrude retorts.

"Yes, Gerty, you speak truly there. Next to God's own precious love, I am sure true earthly affection is His best gift. We did not begin our married life with the same bright

prospects you young people set out with. I was not a newly-fledged rector when I married," Leonard says, smilingly, as he turns towards the pair of lovers.

"Ah! now you touch the sore point again, Mr. Thwaites. You rouse up my perplexities once more. Remember, I should never have courage to proclaim the news to the Eastown people, had not your daughter promised to be my shield. They will have to strike at me through her now."

Katie meets his look with a smile, and a soft glow beams from her eyes. She will do him service in this way or any other, for has she not promised henceforth to share all the sorrows and joys, the duties and trials of life with him? Her heart is brave, her faith strong for the coming future.

All Eastown is, of course, in a state of ferment when they find their petition to Sir Thomas Forest has failed. They are furiously disappointed at not having Mr. Thwaites for their rector. But the second piece of news, that the new rector is soon to be Mr. Thwaites' son-in-law-Miss Katie's husband-falls like soothing balm on their wounded spirits. Most of them decide that, next to their own old tried friend, Mr. Thwaites, Mr. Gurling is the very man they would choose. For even in the short time he has been in the parish, the young man has won their hearts by his zeal and Christian kindness. They perceive he is thoroughly in earnest, doing his Master's work for love of that Master.

Still, some of the Eastown worthies shake their heads. "We shall lose Mr. Thwaites, though. Depend on it, he'll never stay here as curate to so young a man as Mr. Gurling, son-in-law and all as he may be."

But after a time they see Mr. Thwaites goes about the parish as usual, bearing no sign of humiliation. They perceive also Mr. Gurling takes no airs of authority on himself. If there is any emulation, it is which can be the most unselfish, the most lowly-minded, the most zealous in winning souls for Christ.

So Eastown is satisfied. Their forebodings are hushed, and they join hand and heart in making preparations for the coming marriage. Everybody wants to do something, and Jacob Wilford, as spokesman, comes to Leonard again,

"Have you any objection to letting the people place a few flowers in the lane that leads to the churchyard, sir ?"

"Why don't you ask the rector's permission?" Leonard asks pleasantly.

"Well, in this matter we don't think it needful, sir.

The

fact is, some of the young people want to pay Miss Katie a little tribute of respect on her wedding-day."

"Very kind of them, I'm sure!"

"And of course our new rector comes in for a share of the attention also."

66

Thus it happens that when Katie, on her wedding-day, looking like a grown-up fairy," as Lenny describes her, drives up near the churchyard gates, she glances through the carriage windows in amazement.

A triumphal arch has sprung up just before the entrance, all wreathed with the most gorgeous summer flowers. Clusters of roses, pure white lilies, glowing scarlet verbenas, starry jasmine, many-tinted geraniums, and a host of other blossoms, make a structure of exquisite mosaic beauty.

Simple tribute of affection this!-the offering of kindly hearts and willing hands. Katie's eyes fill with quick tears as she looks out.

"Oh, mamma dear! this is too much. How kind and good everybody is to us!"

The wedding party is in itself only a small one-the Thwaites family, two Miss Wilsons as bridesmaids, and a college friend of Mr. Gurling's as best man.

Multitudes

But the church is crowded with lookers-on. of eyes seem to gaze at Katie as she slowly makes her way up the aisle. For one brief minute she almost loses her firm bearing at the unexpected ovation prepared for her.

Q

Galleries and pews-standing room and sitting room! Every available space in the church is crowded, for everybody in the parish who could possibly get away from their work has put on their best clothes and come to see Miss Katie married.

Not so fine a marriage by any means as Alice Burges had-none of the pomp and glitter and show-but a truer, holier marriage by far; for it is the union of loyal hearts and pure affections-the union of immortal and undying faculties and the sweet new present gives promise of a happy future.

Mrs. Thwaites will miss her daughter, for of late Katie has taken such an active part in parish, in school, and household, that even Sarah is satisfied, and wonders however they will get on without "Miss Katie." But they do not complain-they know she is only gone forth into a wider sphere, where her bright young vigour will find increased scope.

The bells chime out on that lazy summer morning as blithely as bells can chime; for the Eastown ringers are doing their best on this occasion, and the joyous sounds mingle with the clear singing of the lark that soars above the old church, wondering, perhaps, what mortals are making such a stir about.

The villagers talk about "Miss Katie's wedding" as they take their way down the lanes towards home, or saunter about in groups through the fields. They have quite a holiday-feeling this morning. The event seems an inspiriting one to everybody, and they smile to each other as they chat about it.

From end to end of the parish it is the one theme of conversation on this particular day. Nothing else is talked about, and if this pen could register all the pleasant wishes and all the kind words that are echoed forth from voice and heart in tones of enthusiastic warmth, a long page would be added to Katie's history.