"It is just as well you don't, for I am sure I could not say. I respect them both immensely. I have from boyhood," he added, with a droll look. Mr. Denner coughed nervously. "It is not of the slightest consequence," he explained,--"not the slightest. I spoke thoughtlessly; ah--unadvisedly." "Of course, of course; I understand," cried the rector, and forbore to add a good-natured jest at Mr. Denner's embarrassment, which was really painful. But when he was well out of hearing, he could not restrain a series of chuckles. "By Jove!" he cried, clapping his thigh, "Denner!--Denner and Miss Deborah! Bless my soul,--Denner!" His mirth, however, did not last long; some immediate annoyances of his own forced themselves into his mind. Before he went to the lawyer's office, he had had a talk with Mrs. Dale, which had not been pleasant; then a letter from Helen had come; and now an anxious wrinkle showed itself under his fur cap, as he walked back to the rectory. He had gone over to show Mr. Dale a somewhat highly seasoned sketch in "Bell's Life;" in the midst of their enjoyment of it, they were interrupted by Mrs. Dale. "I want to speak to you about Lois, brother. Ach! how this room smells of smoke!" she said. "Why, what has the child done now?" said Dr. Howe. "You needn't say 'What has she done now?' as though I was always finding fault," Mrs. Dale answered, "though I do try to do my Christian duty if I see any one making a mistake." "Adele," remarked the rector, with a frankness which was entirely that of a brother, and had no bearing upon his office, "you are always ready enough with that duty of fault-finding." Mr. Dale looked admiringly at his brother-in-law. "Why don't you think of the duty of praise, once in a while? Praise is a Christian grace too much neglected. Don't you think so, Henry?" But Mrs. Dale answered instead: "I am ready enough to praise when there is occasion for it, but you can't expect me to praise Lois for her behavior to young Forsythe. Arabella says the poor youth is completely prostrated by the blow." "Bah!" murmured Mr. Dale under his breath; but Dr. Howe said impatiently,-- "What do you mean? What blow?" "Why, Lois has refused him!" cried Mrs. Dale. "What else?" "I didn't know she had refused him," the rector answered slowly. "Well, the child is the best judge, after all." "I am glad of it," said Mr. Dale,--"I am glad of it. He was no husband for little Lois,--no, my dear, pray let me speak,--no husband for Lois. I have had some conversation with him, and I played euchre with him once. He played too well for a gentleman, Archibald." "He beat you, did he?" said the rector. "That had nothing to do with it!" cried Mr. Dale. "I should have said the same thing had I been his partner"--