small round of church festivals and little teas, and the Saturday evening
whist parties at the rectory. But under monotonous calm may lurk very
wearing anxiety, and this was the case in Ashurst.

Mr. Denner endeavored, with but indifferent success, to conceal the
indecision which was still preying upon his mind. For the suggestion
gained from Jephtha had proved useless. He had, indeed, tried to act upon
it. A day or two after the thought had come to him which so interrupted
family prayers, Mr. Denner sallied forth to learn his fate. It was
surprising how particular he was about his linen that morning,--for he
went in the morning,--and he arrayed himself in his best clothes; he saw
no impropriety, considering the importance of the occasion, in putting on
his evening coat. He even wore his new hat, a thing he had not done more
than half a dozen times--at a funeral perhaps, or a fair--since he bought
it, three years before.

It was a bright, frosty day, and the little gentleman stepped briskly
along the road towards the house of the two sisters. He felt as
light-hearted as any youth who goes a-wooing with a reasonable certainty
of a favorable answer from his beloved. He even sang a little to himself,
in a thin, sweet voice, keeping time with his stick, like a drum-major,
and dwelling faithfully on all the prolonged notes.

"Believe me," sang Mr. Denner,--

"'Believe me, if all those endearing young charms
Which I gaze on so fondly to-day'"--

Mr. Denner's rendering of charms was very elaborate. But while he was
still lingering on the last word, disappointment overtook him.