"Yes, that is our hope--God knows," said Mr Ainsworth gravely. This was the beginning of a long conversation, during which each man surprised the other, and each learned something from the other which bore fruit in the life of both in after years. East and West, North and South, the past, the present, and the future of all sections of the country--all "the burning questions" of the day were discussed. Fidelia listened with shining eyes and changing colour, and dropped a strong word in now and then; and all the time she was saying to herself-- "To think that Jabez should have grown to be just the best sort of man! And what a life lies before him! I wonder if my Eunice knows?" And Jabez, seeing her softened glance, knew as well as if she had spoken her name that it was of her sister that she thought. It rained all the morning, so that there was nothing said about showing the town and the surrounding country to the visitor; and there was all the more time for the talk which seemed to interest them all. The rain ceased, and the sky cleared a little in the afternoon, and a walk was proposed. Mr Ainsworth rose at once and looked at Miss Marsh. "I shall be glad to take a walk," said she. "I have heard so much talk to-day that I need to rest my mind by tiring my body. Come, Lucy and Lena, get your wrappers and let us go. Will you come with us, Mrs Wainright?" "No, I think not; and I am not sure about its being best for the girls to go. Had they better, Fidelia?" "Because of the dampness? It will do Lucy no harm. Lena, perhaps, had better not go." "Oh, if one goes, they may both go! I guess the damp won't hurt them," said Mrs Wainright. And to her husband she said--"And if he has anything to say to her, I guess he'll find a chance to say it." Apparently Mr Ainsworth had nothing particular to say--at least nothing which Lucy and Lena might not hear, for they all walked on together till they came to the church. It was a new and fine church, and visitors in C--were often taken to see and to admire it; so when Mr Ainsworth proposed that they should go into it, the girls at once set off to get the keys. They returned almost immediately, and with them came a gentleman who told Mr Ainsworth, after he had been introduced, that he knew more about the church than any one in C--, and could give them the history of every nail and stone, window and door. He did not quite do that, but he gave them many interesting particulars as to construction and cost, and the special advantages of the building generally over all the other churches in the town, or, in fact, any other town. Mr Ainsworth listened and kept silence in a way which won the respect of the pleased narrator, who probably was not always so fortunate in his listeners. He got through at last, or had another engagement and went away; and then Jabez said softly--