All this seemed so utterly at variance with recognised ideas in England upon the same subject, that I am afraid I did not much profit by my first church-going in the Fatherland. Still, it was an interesting experience, and when time had familiarised me more with both the language and the customs, I found a great deal that I could honestly admire, though I never ceased to prefer our own bright and beautiful Liturgy to the somewhat ponderous nature of worship in the Fatherland. FOOTNOTES: [1] A lofty chain of mountains lying to the south of the province of Silesia. [2] A ball of this kind is a favourite gift in Germany. It looks like a very unskilfully-wound ball of knitting wool. You are bound in honour to knit it up, and as you do so you disclose, one by one, a variety of gifts, the most precious being generally the innermost of all. [3] Nobility. “NO.” BY MARY E. HULLAH. [Illustration: “AN EMPTY CAB CAME RATTLING ROUND THE CORNER.”] CHAPTER III. The wind blew fiercer than ever as Embrance turned out of the broad avenue into a side path, and found herself face to face with Horace Meade. “Good afternoon, Miss Clemon.” “Good afternoon, Mr. Meade.” She put her hand into his for a second; he had thrown away his cigar and turned to walk by her side. “How fast you walk,” he said; “I have been watching you for the last three minutes.” “I haven’t much time to lose,” said Embrance, apologetically, “as a rule. The park gate will shut soon.” “Yes, to be sure. Do you like the Regent’s-park?” “Very much; don’t you?” “Oh yes, immensely, but somehow I never come here. No, indeed, I don’t,” in answer to her look of amusement; “I came to-day because I thought there was a chance of meeting you. There is something that I want to talk to you about. Do you know that you are the most difficult person in the world to approach?” “I should not have thought so,” said Embrance, with a smile. “I think I can guess what you are going to tell me.” He shook his head: “I’m afraid you can’t.” “You must not suppose that she means all she says; only give her time and she will take your advice.” “Ah, yes; Joan, you mean?” It struck Embrance that he was very absent and unlike himself, but she had broached the subject now, and she felt bound to go on with it. “She told me that she was very sorry that she had been ungracious about some suggestion that you made. I’m quite sure that she would not willingly say anything to hurt you.” “I’m quite sure she would not,” assented Horace, “she is much too kind-hearted.” “And,” continued Embrance, clasping her hands firmly in her muff, “I wanted to say (we needn’t talk about it again), if you think that it would be better for her to go down to Doveton, I will try and persuade her to go; it would not be for long, perhaps.” “No, I suppose not,” said Horace, absently; “but don’t you see, Miss Clemon, the question is not altogether about Joan’s peace of mind, but yours?”