honest and energetic, and as a worker among the poor few could have
equalled him. He seemed to fancy, however, that with the poor his
work ended, and he was not always so wise as he might have been in
Muddleton society.

"Good afternoon, Miss Houghton," he exclaimed. "Do you happen to
know if your brother is at home? I want just to speak to him about
the choir treat."

"Oh, he is sure to be in by this time," said Lena.

And they walked home together.

"I am so glad to have this chance of speaking to you," she began
rather nervously. "I wanted particularly to ask your advice."

Mr. Blackthorne, being human and young, was not unnaturally
flattered by this remark. True, he was becoming well accustomed to
this sort of thing, since the ladies of Muddleton were far more fond
of seeking advice from the young and good-looking curate than from
the elderly and experienced rector. They said it was because Mr.
Blackthorne was so much more sympathetic, and understood the
difficulties of the day so much better; but I think they
unconsciously deceived themselves, for the rector was one of a
thousand, and the curate, though he had in him the makings of a fine
man, was as yet altogether crude and young.

"Was it about anything in your district?" he asked, devoutly hoping
that she was not going to propound some difficult question about the
origin of evil, or any other obscure subject. For though he liked