"Don't let your conscience trouble you on the score of that neglect," answered the deacon, his face flushing with anger, while he tried to force a smile: "I shouldn't have paid the least attention to it if you had. My firm opinion has always been that a minister's duty is to preach the gospel, not meddle in the private affairs of the members of his church; and if you knew all, Mr. Drake, you would not have gone out of your way to make the remark. But that's neither here nor there, for it's not the business as we've come upon.--Mr. Drake, it's a clear thing to every one as looks into it, that the cause will never prosper so long as that's the chapel we've got. We did think as perhaps a younger man might do something to counteract church-influences; but there don't seem any sign of betterment yet. In fact, thinks looks worse. No, sir! it's the chapel as is the stumbling-block. What has religion got to do with what's ugly and dirty! A place that any lady or gentleman, let he or she be so much of a Christian, might turn up the nose and refrain the foot from! No! I say; what we want is a new place of worship. Cow-lane is behind the age--and _that_ musty! uw!" "With the words of truth left sticking on the walls?" suggested Mr. Drake. "Ha! ha! ha!--Good that!" exclaimed several. But the pastor's face looked stern, and the voices dropped into rebuked silence. "At least you'll allow, sir," persisted Barwood, "that the house of God ought to be as good as the houses of his people. It stands to reason. Depend upon it, He won't give us no success till we give Him a decent house. What! are we to dwell in houses of cedar, and the ark of the Lord in a tent? That's what it comes to, sir!" The pastor's spiritual gorge rose at this paganism in Jew clothing. "You think God loves newness and finery better than the old walls where generations have worshiped?" he said. "I make no doubt of it, sir," answered Barwood. "What's generations to him! He wants the people drawn to His house; and what there is in Cow-lane to draw is more than I know." "I understand you wish to sell the chapel," said Mr. Drake. "Is it not rather imprudent to bring down the value of your property before you have got rid of it?" Barwood smiled a superior smile. He considered the bargain safe, and thought the purchaser a man who was certain to pull the chapel down. "I know who the intending purchaser is," said Mr. Drake, "and----" Barwood's countenance changed: he bethought himself that the conveyance was not completed, and half started from his chair. "You would never go to do such an unneighborly act," he cried, "as----" "--As conspire to bring down the value of a property the moment it had passed out of my hands?--I would not, Mr. Barwood; and this very day the intending purchaser shall know of your project."