John rose up suddenly, and then sat down again.

"Did you also, my dear madam, hear that he is a dissenting preacher ? "

"Of course, my dear Leslie, and it is for that reason I invited him here this evening. I have very fervent hopes that I may convert him."

"I fear not the man is essentially of a low, unseemly nature. He is not well considered even among his own people. He is of habits, of practices, that unfit him for the society of ladies."

"But you put out your hand to him, Leslie."

"True; so I do to the dying soul, even if he be lying in a ditch-but I say at once, now and for all, Emily retires to her own room when this man comes. I remain with you, if you desire it."

"You amaze me, Leslie-I may say, you shock me; you appear to practise so little what you preach."

John walked out of the room; he was irascible, we fear, a little. But if he was unreasonably so, he was properly punished; he met in the hall Miss Charles, escorted by Mr. Powell and another person, who was as little gifted in his personal appearance as his companion, and who was unknown to Mr. Leslie.

Recovering himself, if he was irritated, Mr. Leslie politely bowed, and requesting Miss Charles to go into the drawing-room, he took the two men with him into his study. He ordered a simple refection of bread, cheese, and ale, discoursing amiably upon all sorts of matters.

Then with a degree of wickedness of which no one could have believed until that moment Mr. Leslie was capable, he ordered in the spirit-case, hot water, sugar, and lemons; and when his two visitors were in a genial glow, and the little study redolent of brandy, he suddenly asked if they did

not come to see his respected mother-inlaw?***

"Of course they did, and were to have had the honour of a dish of tea; but, indeed, for their parts, Mr. Leslie understood their likings best. Good ale, sound cheese, and a dash of brandy-and-water were by much the finer cheer. Tea was never much to their taste."

Well," quoth that wicked John to himself, as he went to bring her, "I have lost my own tea, but I think I have done a good business to-night."

Mrs. Reine was essentially refined in every sense, though when she was riding her hobby the senses somehow slumbered.

The first shock of the brandy-and-water was great; but not so great as the inward view she had of the natures of these men. Emboldened by their cheer, they argued and talked, and preached and roared, until, stunned and frightened, she deserted the

field, and was an object of unquestionable gratification to John the next morning— pale and subdued under the authoritative power of a headache.

CHAPTER XII.

"An honest man is still an unmoved rock,
Washed whiter, but not shaken with the shock;
Whose heart conceives no sinister device-
Fearless he plays with flames, and treads on ice."
DAVENPORT.

YET, good general as he proved himself, Mr. Leslie was nearly defeated another way.

Of course these people boasted of their reception and their success, neither report losing by repetition-for Rumour was quite as dishonest then as now. So Mr. Leslie lost ground in the eyes of many of his parishioners. His kindly word and friendly shake of the hand were not worth so much, if he admitted to his board and intimacy such cha