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beside her； let her pour out her grief to him without let or
hindrance。
She said she knew she had not given up all for Christ's sake； it was
this that weighed upon her。 She had given up much； and had always
tried to give up more year by year； still she knew very well that
she had not been so spiritually minded as she ought to have been。
If she had； she should probably have been favoured with some direct
vision or communication； whereas； though God had vouchsafed such
direct and visible angelic visits to one of her dear children； yet
she had had none such herselfnor even had Theobald。
She was talking rather to herself than to Ernest as she said these
words； but they made him open his ears。 He wanted to know whether
the angel had appeared to Joey or to Charlotte。 He asked his
mother； but she seemed surprised； as though she expected him to know
all about it； then； as if she remembered； she checked herself and
said； 〃Ah！ yesyou know nothing of all this； and perhaps it is as
well。〃 Ernest could not of course press the subject； so he never
found out which of his near relations it was who had had direct
communication with an immortal。 The others never said anything to
him about it； though whether this was because they were ashamed； or
because they feared he would not believe the story and thus increase
his own damnation； he could not determine。
Ernest has often thought about this since。 He tried to get the
facts out of Susan； who he was sure would know； but Charlotte had
been beforehand with him。 〃No； Master Ernest；〃 said Susan； when he
began to question her； 〃your ma has sent a message to me by Miss
Charlotte as I am not to say nothing at all about it； and I never
will。〃 Of course no further questioning was possible。 It had more
than once occurred to Ernest that Charlotte did not in reality
believe more than he did himself； and this incident went far to
strengthen his surmises； but he wavered when he remembered how she
had misdirected the letter asking for the prayers of the
congregation。 I suppose；〃 he said to himself gloomily； 〃she does
believe in it after all。〃
Then Christina returned to the subject of her own want of spiritual…
mindedness； she even harped upon the old grievance of her having
eaten black puddingstrue； she had given them up years ago； but for
how many years had she not persevered in eating them after she had
had misgivings about their having been forbidden！ Then there was
something that weighed on her mind that had taken place before her
marriage； and she should like …
Ernest interrupted： 〃My dear mother；〃 he said； 〃you are ill and
your mind is unstrung； others can now judge better about you than
you can； I assure you that to me you seem to have been the most
devotedly unselfish wife and mother that ever lived。 Even if you
have not literally given up all for Christ's sake； you have done so
practically as far as it was in your power； and more than this is
not required of anyone。 I believe you will not only be a saint； but
a very distinguished one。〃
At these words Christina brightened。 〃You give me hope； you give me
hope；〃 she cried； and dried her eyes。 She made him assure her over
and over again that this was his solemn conviction； she did not care
about being a distinguished saint now； she would be quite content to
be among the meanest who actually got into heaven； provided she
could make sure of escaping that awful Hell。 The fear of this
evidently was omnipresent with her； and in spite of all Ernest could
say he did not quite dispel it。 She was rather ungrateful； I must
confess； for after more than an hour's consolation from Ernest she
prayed for him that he might have every blessing in this world；
inasmuch as she always feared that he was the only one of her
children whom she should never meet in heaven； but she was then
wandering； and was hardly aware of his presence； her mind in fact
was reverting to states in which it had been before her illness。
On Sunday Ernest went to church as a matter of course； and noted
that the ever receding tide of Evangelicalism had ebbed many a stage
lower； even during the few years of his absence。 His father used to
walk to the church through the Rectory garden； and across a small
intervening field。 He had been used to walk in a tall hat； his
Master's gown； and wearing a pair of Geneva bands。 Ernest noticed
that the bands were worn no longer； and lo！ greater marvel still；
Theobald did not preach in his Master's gown； but in a surplice。
The whole character of the service was changed； you could not say it
was high even now； for high…church Theobald could never under any
circumstances become； but the old easy…going slovenliness； if I may
say so； was gone for ever。 The orchestral accompaniments to the
hymns had disappeared while my hero was yet a boy； but there had
been no chanting for some years after the harmonium had been
introduced。 While Ernest was at Cambridge； Charlotte and Christina
had prevailed on Theobald to allow the canticles to be sung； and
sung they were to old…fashioned double chants by Lord Mornington and
Dr Dupuis and others。 Theobald did not like it； but he did it； or
allowed it to be done。
Then Christina said： 〃My dear； do you know； I really think〃
（Christina always 〃really〃 thought） 〃that the people like the
chanting very much； and that it will be a means of bringing many to
church who have stayed away hitherto。 I was talking about it to Mrs
Goodhew and to old Miss Wright only yesterday； and they QUITE agreed
with me； but they all said that we ought to chant the 'Glory be to
the Father' at the end of each of the psalms instead of saying it。〃
Theobald looked blackhe felt the waters of chanting rising higher
and higher upon him inch by inch； but he felt also； he knew not why；
that he had better yield than fight。 So he ordered the 〃Glory be to
the Father〃 to be chanted in future； but he did not like it。
〃Really； mamma dear；〃 said Charlotte； when the battle was won； 〃you
should not call it the 'Glory be to the Father' you should say
'Gloria。'〃
〃Of course； my dear；〃 said Christina； and she said 〃Gloria〃 for ever
after。 Then she thought what a wonderfully clever girl Charlotte
was； and how she ought to marry no one lower than a bishop。 By…and…
by when Theobald went away for an unusually long holiday one summer；
he could find no one but a rather high…church clergyman to take his
duty。 This gentleman was a man of weight in the neighbourhood；
having considerable private means； but without preferment。 In the
summer he would often help his brother clergymen； and it was through
his being willing to take the duty at Battersby for a few Sundays
that Theobald had been able to get away for so long。 On his return；
however； he found that the whole psalms were being chanted as well
as the Glorias。 The influential clergyman； Christina； and Charlotte
took the bull by the horns as soon as Theobald returned； and laughed
it all off； and the clergyman laughed and bounced； and Christina
laughed and coaxed； and Charlotte uttered unexceptionable
sentiments； and the thing was done now； and could not be undone； and
it was no use grie