On reaching the house she bade the old man a kindly good-bye, and directed him to go to the kitchen and tell the cook, from her, to give him a good dinner, with plenty of hot, strong coffee. Rosie and Walter were on the back veranda looking out for mamma. "Oh we're so glad you've tum home, mamma!" cried Walter, running to meet her and claim a kiss. "Yes, mamma, it seemed so long to wait," said Rosie, "and now there is a strange gentleman in the drawing-room, waiting to see you. He's been here a good while, and both grandpas are out." "Then I must go to him at once. But I think he is not likely to detain me long away from you, darlings," the mother said. She found the gentleman--a handsome man of middle age--looking not at all annoyed or impatient, but seemingly well entertained by Isa and Violet, who were there, chatting sociably together over some pretty fancy work, when he was shown in by the servant. They withdrew after Isa had introduced Mrs. Travilla and Mr. Embury. The former thought it a little singular when she learned that her caller's errand was the same with that of Uncle Ben, _i.e._, to talk about Mr. Jones and the propriety of asking him to take permanent charge of the two churches: yet with this difference--that he was personally not unfavorable to the idea. "I like him very well, though he is not by any means Mr. Mason's equal as a preacher," he said, "and I think our little congregation can be induced to give him a call; but we are too few to support him unless by continuing the union with this church, so that the small salary we can give will still be supplemented by the very generous one you pay, and the use of the cottage you built for Mr. Mason. I am taking for granted, my dear Madame, that you intend to go on doing for your retainers here as you have hitherto." "I do," she said, "in case they choose a minister whose teachings accord with those of the inspired word. I cannot be responsible for any other." "And do those of Mr. Jones not come up to the standard?" "I regret to have to say that they do not; his preaching is far from satisfactory to me; he makes nothing of the work of the Spirit, or the danger of grieving Him away forever; nothing of the danger of self-deception; instructing those who are in doubt about the genuineness of their conversion that they must not be discouraged, instead of advising them to go to Christ now and be saved, just as any other sinner must. I fear his teaching may lead some to be content with a false hope. Then he often speaks in a half hesitating way, which shows doubt and uncertainty, on his part, of truths which are taught most plainly and forcibly in scripture. In a word, his preaching leaves the impression upon me that he has no very thorough acquaintance with the Bible, and no very strong confidence in the infallibility of its teachings. Indeed so glaring are his contradictions of scripture, that even my young children have noticed them more than once or twice."