"May I participate, in virtue of my second-best claim?" asked he, with his own beaming smile, seating himself before she assented. Ida's trifling embarrassment was transient. His behavior, open and free, as of old, had not a tincture of reserve, or significance to indicate that he thought of their new relation. The beauty of our lower sanctuary; the upper, which it dimly shadows forth; Annie's sickness and death; the Christian's work and hopes--were the matter of their conversation; and as the rest assembled, they were spared the disagreeable sensation one feels at interrupting a tete-a-tete. "Is it time to ring the prayer-bell, Ida?" asked Emma, as the last loiterer came in. "I think so. We breakfast early on Sunday mornings, that we may be at school in season," she said to Mrs. Dana. It was her practice to lead in family worship, night and morning. Arthur had performed this office the evening before, and the servants having collected in the hall, she motioned him to the stand, where lay the Bible. "I am hoarse," he said. "Lacy!" The person addressed reddened slightly, but conquering himself instantly, did as he was requested; and Ida, too, although not so easily, lost the identity of the man in the reader, and was prepared to join, with solemnity and fervor of spirit, in his prayer. By Charley's contrivance, they rode to church in the light buggy. Ida condemned herself for the feeling of disappointment that fell suddenly upon her, as the school-house appeared; and more for the fancies which strayed--starry-winged butterflies into the machinery of her morning's duties; but her pupils were unconscious of the visitants. "Is that your regular pastor?" inquired Mr. Lacy, as they were driving back. "_Ir_-regular, rather--if you speak of the seasons of his ministrations. Presiding over three--I am not certain it is not four congregations, he preaches for us once a month." "Who officiates the three other Sabbaths?" "Sometimes the pastor of the Hill-side church. The second Sabbath is his day in course; but he lives twelve miles off. If he is among the missing, we catch up a circuit-rider, or go sermonless." "'These things ought not so to be.'" "I know it--but they _are_! Who is to remedy them? Palm-branch is a free church." "And as often free of preachers, as of sectarianism, it seems," said he. "More frequently. The war of polemic debate is waged as furiously there, as if the controversialists owned pulpit, pews and people. The number of communicants of our persuasion, in this neighborhood, is small; yet they are mostly persons in good circumstances, and able to have a church of their own, if they would think so." "They should purchase this Palm-branch. There is more euphony than meaning in that name, when applied to a house." "A free church, especially," answered Ida. "However, our Sabbath-school has vanquished its enemies, and may lead the church on to victory."