Audrey, writing in a slow, fair, clerkly hand, made her period, and turned
to the Bishop's second question: "'Had you any other church before you
came to that which you now possess?'"

"'No, my Lord,'" said the minister to the Bishop; then to the ceiling: "I
came raw from the devil to this parish. Audrey, hast ever heard children
say that Satan comes and walks behind me when I go through the forest?"

"Yes," said Audrey, "but their eyes are not good. You go hand in hand."

Darden paused in the lifting of his tankard. "Thy wits are brightening,
Audrey; but keep such observations to thyself. It is only the schoolmaster
with whom I walk. Go on to the next question."

The Bishop desired to know how long the minister addressed had been
inducted into his living. The minister addressed, leaning forward, laid it
off to his Lordship how that the vestries in Virginia did not incline to
have ministers inducted, and, being very powerful, kept the poor servants
of the Church upon uneasy seats; but that he, Gideon Darden, had the love
of his flock, rich and poor, gentle and simple, and that in the first year
of his ministry the gentlemen of his vestry had been pleased to present
his name to the Governor for induction. Which explanation made, the
minister drank more rum, and looked out of the window at the orchard and
at his neighbor's tobacco.

"You are only a woman, and can hold no office, Audrey," he said, "but I
will impart to you words of wisdom whose price is above rubies. Always
agree with your vestry. Go, hat in hand, to each of its members in turn,
craving advice as to the management of your own affairs. Thunder from the