considerations that had been filling her mind, so that she was not very sorry when he left the room to prepare for dinner. Later on in the evening, he said to them, "Now, girls, listen! I have three pieces of information for you; the first two I expect will not quite please you; the third, I flatter myself, will give us all three pleasure if, Miss Marsden, we can procure your father's consent. You know he has a little of-of-of, what shall I call it, Miss Marsden? of the old fashioned puritanical school about him; but I think in this little matter we may get him to yield.” "Really, Arthur, I wish you would come to the point, and tell us what you mean, without all this preface," said Annie. "Well, then, I will begin with the first piece of information; it concerns myself," said Sir Arthur. "Dr. Burlton has written for me to come to Barford to help him to arrange some matters in which we both are interested, and I shall be away some days; however, Annie, you will have Miss Marsden for a companion, and I hope you will manage to enjoy yourselves without me. "Annie," continued he, "you must be beginning to prepare the decorations for Christmas; they will take you some time this year, as much will depend on your own exertions. Mr. Silverton has not the staff of lady helpers that Dr. Burlton possesses. However, we must do what we can; any deficiencies I must purchase from some of the large Sisterhoods, they always have a stock of church decorations on hand. We must let the inhabitants of this place see that we, at all events, do not neglect the 'holy season, "" said the young baronet, with marked solemnity. "You observe times, and months, and days, and years," thought Emily. 66 My next piece of information," continued he, "refers more especially to you, Miss Marsden. I met your father as I was coming up the village, and he signed to me to stop my horse; and asked me to tell you that he had heard from your cousin Allan, that his regiment had been ordered to Ireland, and that he had so much to do he should not be able to come to Westcombe to bid you farewell." "Allan going to Ireland!" exclaimed Emily, "how tiresome! then he will not be at home for Christmas." Annie appeared absorbed, as if she heard not the news. "My third piece of information is this: I hear from Mr. Silverton that there is to be a grand choral service at Eleigh parish church after Christmas; such an one, Annie,” said he, turning towards his sister, "as we had last spring at St. Hilda's. "Now, I wish, Miss Marsden, we could induce you to come with us to Eleigh; it will be quite a musical treat, I can assure you. I do not think your father can possibly have any objection to this kind of entertainment, it will take place upon a week-day; also anything that leads to the improvement of church psalmody, no reasonable person can object to. The singing, I must confess, at your father's church is better than I expected to find it; it just requires a few finishing strokes that you would be able to introduce after hearing a really good festival, such as I anticipate the one at Eleigh will be." Emily felt pleased to hear Sir Arthur speak in such a complimentary manner of the music at Westcombe church, as the arrangement of the choir mainly depended upon herself and Isabel. "It is most important," added Sir Arthur, "in these days, to pay great attention to music in churches. Good music is essential, the best of everything for the sanctuary.' Music is a divine gift; it cannot be too highly estimated; it is glorious; it is heavenly!" and his countenance was radiant with enthusiasm. "Don't you agree with me in this, Miss Marsden?" "I quite agree with you," replied Emily, "in thinking that we ought to dedicate our talents (whatever they may be) to the service of God, and that we ought certainly to praise Him with the best members that we have; at the same time, I do not like musical displays of any kind in a church, to my mind they appear irreverent." "Ah! ah!" replied Sir Arthur, "that is quite an oldfashioned notion. If you mixed more in society, whether in London or Oxford, you would soon lose these antiquated notions; we are living in days of progress and enlightenment. Events are constantly changing, and we must keep pace with the age. Why, a few years ago our churches were like barns; our pews resembled stalls in a stable; the choir consisted of a few raw country lads, and the village maidens, in flaunting dress and gay attire; while the music was a flute or a bassoon. Then the number of the psalm-tune was inserted on a sign-board, on which was painted by some rustic artist, king David with his harp and crown; while certainly the singing that emanated from that quarter must have been very unlike that of the sweet psalmist of Israel. "But these are all things of the past; now look at our noble edifices, fit places for Christian worship: open seats, where people can devoutly kneel, and the singing is led by men decently robed, and fitted to conduct the sacred service of holy song. It is a beautiful sight, a white-robed choir. 'Her fair monastic band In robes of purest white, "All this talk and prejudice against what are called 'innovations,' will in time pass away; we shall soon hear no more; it only requires an effort to overcome them." Emily could hardly help smiling at Sir Arthur's enthusiasm; but she replied very quietly, after thanking him for his kind proposal that she should go to the festival, that she must beg him to excuse her, she knew her father much disliked displays of this kind, and that she had often heard him say, that he never could bear to see the worship in any church conducted solely by the clergyman and his choir, which was so frequently the case where so much elaborate care was bestowed upon the music. He preferred good congregational singing, wherein all took their part; and where the worship and praise of God was the object desired, and not merely the gratification of the ear. THE next morning Arthur quitted Langleigh, Annie was therefore left alone with Emily. This was strange, rather unlike Sir Arthur's wonted vigilance; but sometimes the most wary are deceived in their own schemes. He had been peculiarly captivated with Emily Marsden, and he considered her far more likely to be led by himself, than that she, a weak, simple child, would be able to gain any permanent influence over his sister. Annie had been for the last two years carefully trained by himself, by Dr. Burlton, by Sister Cecilia, and by Mr. Silverton, in Catholic doctrine. He need not fear leaving her for a short time with a young, and, he thought, very amiable Protestant. On the contrary, Annie he considered might possibly draw Emily towards Catholicism; but "God's ways are not man's ways," and He does sometimes bring to naught the counsel of the worldly-wise. At first when the girls were left together there seemed a little restraint upon them. Emily's confidence in Annie, as a friend, had been a little shaken. How could two walk together except they were agreed; and yet, at the same time, she had a strong yearning affection for her. She felt as if she loved her more than ever, and earnestly did she pray that she might be stayed in her downward course; and the |